Syrian civil strife and war of recent years have unfortunately reached such level where it is now difficult to even provide and maintain power at the required level needed by a hospital, let alone a Conflict-hit Syrian hospital going solar. Despite the doom and gloom of such destruction and clear way to the light at the end of the tunnel, a show of such work is best proof that there is still hope for a “Happy End” of it all.
MENA-Forum as a hopeful space for a respectable understanding between all of its disparate peoples believe that only through operations such as these, that peace, prosperity and progress can be attained and maintained.
This article of CLIMATECHANGE published on May 29, 2017 and written by Megan Darby does give an excellent rendering of this heroic action that should be encouraged.
Conflict-hit Syrian hospital goes solar to save lives
Medical charity UOSSM plans to roll out solar power to five more facilities, reducing reliance on diesel generators to keep incubators and other equipment running
These solar panels are expected to supply cheaper and more reliable power to keep essential medical equipment running (Pic: YouTube screenshot/UOSSM)
A Syrian hospital completed a solar power installation on Monday, in a bid to save lives.
The hospital, which was not named to protect staff from attacks, was exclusively relying on diesel generators after six years of conflict destroyed much of the electricity grid.
Frequent diesel shortages and price spikes was putting lives at risk, according to a statement, not least those of premature babies in the facility’s six incubators.
Medical charity UOSSM, which is behind the project, estimates that the 480 solar panels installed will save 7,000 litres of diesel a month and cut energy costs by 20-30%.
It is planning to roll out solar panels to another five hospitals.
“We believe that this type of projects brings hope,” said Tarek Makdissi, project director of UOSSM’s Syria solar initiative. “Our dream is to see every medical facility in Syria running on clean, sustainable energy.”
Anas Al Kassem, war surgeon and chairman of UOSSM-Canada, said he was “overjoyed” to see the project up and running.
“The majority of the electrical infrastructure in Syria was either bombed, dismantled or destroyed,” he said. “Many patients have died from simple power outages. The solar project was desperately needed.”
