The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today said that, according to reports it has received, Syria is experiencing critical shortages in medicines and pharmaceutical products. “The recent escalation of clashes had resulted in substantial damages to the pharmaceutical plants located in rural Aleppo, Homs and Rural Damascus, where 90% of the country’s plants were located,” a WHO spokesperson, Tarik Jasarevic, told reporters in Geneva today. “Many of these plants had now closed down, thus resulting in a critical shortage of medicines.” Prior to the violence which has wracked the Middle Eastern country, Syria produced 90% of its medicines and drugs locally. However, this production has slowed down due to insecurity, the decreased availability of raw materials, sanctions and increased fuel costs stemming from the violence that has killed an estimated 17,000 people, mostly civilians, since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began some 17 months ago. Over recent days, there have been reports of an escalation in violence in many towns and villages, as well as the country’s two biggest cities, Damascus and Aleppo, with the latter reportedly the center of intense combat between Government and opposition forces, involving both aerial bombardments and heavy weaponry. Among the most urgently needed medicines are drugs to treat tuberculosis, hepatitis, hypertension, diabetes and cancer, as well as haemodialysis for kidney diseases, according to WHO. Chemical reagents for blood screening tests are also urgently needed to ensure the safety and quality of blood used in surgical and trauma cases. “The health sector had been heavily affected in conflict areas as hospitals and health centers had been closed, damaged or controlled by parties to the conflict,” Mr. Jasarevic said. “Public health facilities were often inaccessible due to ongoing violence and lack of public transportation.” The spokesperson added that the main challenge faced by WHO staff remained unhindered access to those in need. The health agency has been working with Syria’s Ministry of Health, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and partners since the beginning of the conflict to address the health needs of crisis-affected populations.