‘The feeling of powerlessness is excruciating’, says Syrian doctor serving population of 100,000

Airstrikes and ‘catastrophic medical conditions’ will not deter surgeon from doing his job

Many believe Russian air strikes have been targetting hospitals in Syria (STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

A Syrian doctor serving more than 100,000 people has spoken of the "constant danger" he and his family live in - but says he refuses to abandon those who “desperately need” him.

The man, who did not want to be named, is now the only general surgeon in an area of rural Homs, as most of the other surgeons have left.

He described the daily challenge of trying to help increasing numbers of patients without medication and equipment, all while working in “catastrophic” conditions.

“I am certainly unhappy with my situation, but I also know that people desperately need us,” he said.

He said treating injured children was particularly painful, saying: “The feeling of powerlessness that overcomes you is excruciating.”

Speaking to charity Medecin San Frontier (Doctors Without Borders), he also described the devastating effect of air strikes on hospitals, and the pressure this puts on the already under-equipped facilities.

“Evacuating the injured has proven to be a perilous endeavour and so critical cases are immediately dealt with on the spot, regardless of the dangers,” he said.

Doctors in Homs often have to work in appalling conditions (Getty Images)

A lot of displaced people have relocated to the two small towns where he works - Ar-Rastan and Al-Zafaranah – as they are safer than the heavily bombarded areas, putting extra strain on the limited resources.

Dr al Jundi is one of many who believes Russian air strikes have deliberately targeted hospitals in the region, allegations the country has repeatedly denied.

Last month Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, said: “We categorically reject such claims, even more so because each time those who make such claims prove unable somehow to corroborate their unsubstantiated accusations.”

The conflict has devastated large parts of the infrastructure in the Homs region (AFP)

According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 273,520 people have been killed since the conflict began five years ago, of them, 79,585 were civilians.

The organisation also estimates two million people have been wounded and now suffer from permanent disabilities.

Another11 million people have been forced out of their homes since the start of the conflict.