Half a million wounded in Syria’s war: ICRC

Half a million people across war-hit Syria have been wounded, many of them lacking access to basic healthcare and treatment, the International Committee for the Red Cross said on Sunday.

Millions have also been displaced inside Syria and tens of thousands detained, ICRC chief Magne Barth said in a statement.

“At least half a million people have been wounded across the country and millions remain displaced and tens of thousands detained,” he said.

“The wounded are often not cared for properly and the chronically ill often do not receive the treatment they need,” Barth added.

The ICRC urged again the Syrian government and the rebels to allow humanitarian assistance to reach all people affected by the 33-month conflict.

Barth said Syrian authorities were preventing access to rebel-held areas besieged by loyalists troops, including in Homs and Damascus provinces, despite saying more humanitarian assistance was needed.