World Health Organization concerned by Syrian health situation

GENEVA, Switzerland, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The United Nations' World Health Organization said it was concerned about the state of the healthcare system in Syria because of lingering civil war.

"WHO continues to be concerned about attacks on health facilities and health workers, and urges all parties in the conflict to respect the integrity and neutrality of health facilities," the agency said in a statement Tuesday.

WHO said the health situation in Syria has been in a steady state of deterioration since conflict began in early 2011. The health organization said attacks on healthcare workers, the destruction of health facilities and a general shortage of medicine was creating an emergency situation in Syria.

"Medicine prices on the black market have risen steeply and are not available to the majority of the population, especially, in rural areas," it said.

Nevertheless, WHO said it's been able to deliver more than 125 tons of medical equipment and medicines to Aleppo, a region witnessing some of the heaviest fighting in the conflict, during the past two weeks.

Delivered in two shipments, the supplies are enough to treat more than 150,000 patients, WHO said.