Five MSF doctors kidnapped in the north of Syria

Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) announced on Friday that five staff doctors have been kidnapped from one of their houses in the north of Syria.

MSF said in a statement that the doctors were kidnapped on Thursday; it is expected that a jihadist group kidnapped them for ‘investigations.’

“MSF is in contact with all active sides in the Syrian arena, as well as the families of our colleagues,” MSF said in the statement. “We are doing our best to re-connect with the kidnapped doctors in order to guarantee their safety.”

Sources said that French, German and Spanish doctors were among those kidnapped. The sources also said that they were kidnapped after the armed Iraqi group Da’esh broke into one of the field hospitals run by MSF in Latakia.

MSF runs six hospitals and four medical clinics in the north of Syria. It also runs a medical programme in neighbouring countries, which manages 27 hospitals and 56 health clinics. It supplies medicines, medical equipment and healthcare consultations for Syrians.

In September 2013, a Syrian doctor working for MSF in the north of Syria was kidnapped.

MSF and other humanitarian organisation staff are in danger in all parts controlled by rebels. Last October, seven Red Cross staff were kidnapped. A Syrian organisation accused Da’esh of kidnapping them.

Source: Arabi21