Vancouver medical aid drive for war-torn Syria

Volunteers at Vancouver City Hall have collected another round ofdonatedmedical supplies to send to people in Syria.

"We're hoping that opening the door for the public to donate some medical supplies in the form of wheelchairs, crutches," saidRiamEl-Safadi,amedical aid volunteer with Not Just Tourists.

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"Anything from somebody who's been in the hospital or treated and they no longer need, or somebody passed away. In their memory they can donate medical supplies that would go for a good cause to help the people walk again in Syria, the suffering people and those who are injured."

Donations El-Safadihas collected so far includewheelchairs, walkers, crutches, bandages, unexpired medications, and other medical supplies.

More than half a dozen containers of equipment have been sent to Syria from Metro Vancouver so far, but El-Safadi says more is urgently needed.

He says everything the organization collects goes to its network of medical professionals that organize thedonations and distributethem in hospitals in Syria, 80 per cent of which, according to Doctors Without Borders, are no longer able to operate.

To donate medical supplies in Vancouver for Syria contact:Vancouveraid@gmail.com.