MSF Confirms 'Chemical Deaths' in Syria

World | August 24, 2013, Saturday // 19:41
Bulgaria: MSF Confirms 'Chemical Deaths' in Syria Photo by usatoday.com

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres says it has treated about 3,600 patients with "neurotoxic symptoms" in Syria, of whom 355 have died.

It said the patients had arrived in three hospitals it supports in the Damascus governorate on 21 August - when opposition activists say chemical attacks were launched against rebels.

MSF says staff at the hospitals described a large number of patients arriving with symptoms including convulsions, extreme salivation, contracted pupils and sight and respiratory problems, the BBC informs.

The charity said many were treated with atropine, a drug administered to those with "neurotoxic symptoms".

MSF has no staff of its own in the Damascus region, but has been supporting hospitals and medical networks there since 2012.

Since fighting began in March 2011 between the Syrian Government and opposition groups seeking to oust President Bashar Al-Assad as many as 100,000 people have been killed, almost 2 million have fled to neighbouring countries and a further 4 million have been internally displaced.

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Tags: Medecins Sans Frontieres, neurotoxic, Syria, chemical

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