Overwhelmed Staff Face Rising Death Toll
In Sweida’s main hospital the number of casualties from recent clashes has surged past 400 in just a few days, and the morgue can no longer hold the dead, hospital workers say. The city’s only government‑run medical center sees bodies lining the corridors and spilling into the street.
Medics work in shifts that stretch across day and night, yet they lack basic supplies and equipment. They appeal for help by phone and social media, but aid has not arrived in time.
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Power Cuts and Water Shortages Hamper Care
Staff report that electricity fails at random and water runs out for long periods, and that makes even simple tasks like sterilizing instruments nearly impossible. They run generators on scarce fuel when they can find it, and they carry water in jugs from distant wells. Some wounded lie on the floor because beds fill up with patients who need urgent surgery.
They wait with open wounds and broken bones under dim lights and in extreme heat when air conditioning stutters.
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Violence Between Communities Sparks Intervention
The current crisis began late on Sunday when Druze fighters clashed with nearby Bedouin tribes over long‑standing disputes. Syrian government troops moved in on Tuesday claiming they would stop the bloodshed.
Instead, they stand accused by rights groups of targeting civilians and looting homes. These allegations come from witnesses on the ground and local human rights activists who say they fear reprisals if they speak out.
International Pressure and Withdrawal
After days of mounting reports of abuses, Israel warned it would act to protect Druze communities near its border, and government forces pulled back on Thursday. The United Nations called for an immediate halt to the violence and asked for open investigations into each violation.
Yet for many in Sweida the damage has already been done. They still fear attacks at checkpoints and receive sporadic warnings to remain indoors or risk death.
Personal Analysis on Long‑Term Impact
The dire scene at Sweida’s hospital shows that even a short flare‑up can bring a region to its knees when basic services no longer function. Deaths pile up faster than aid can arrive. And the absence of power and water underlines how violence warps every part of daily life.
If the government cannot secure the city’s safety or keep the lights on, people will feel they have no reason to trust any authority. Relief groups must work with community leaders to rebuild trust. They need to prepare for future spikes in violence by setting up mobile clinics on the outskirts of the city. Only then can they prevent the hospital from turning into a mass grave again.
Sources: France24
