Syrian Jets Bombard Aleppo Children’s Hospital During a 48-Hour Offensive

Jet fighters and helicopters reportedly bombarded a children’s hospital and blood bank in east Aleppo on Wednesday.

According to a Facebook post by the Independent Doctors Association, 20 barrel bombs, or “flying IEDs” hit the hospital on Wednesday morning. The association also reported that five hospitals and one mobile clinic had been bombed in the past 48 hours.

“Like all the surrounding hospitals in eastern Aleppo, it has been hit multiple times this year alone, putting 2016 on track to becoming the worst year of hospital attacks on record,” the association stated.

Reports from the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights suggest that at least 20 civilians were killed during the bombing of the city’s eastern neighborhoods, including at least five children, a woman, and a member of a medical crew. Dozens others have been injured. The Observatory expects the death toll to rise due to serious injuries for those wounded during the attack.

”A horrible day for the Children’s Hospital. Me and my staff and all the patients are sitting in one room in the basement right now, trying to protect our patients. We are trying to leave the basement but we can’t because of all the aircraft still in the sky,” read a statement by Dr. Hatem, the director of Aleppo’s Children’s Hospital.

“We will try to get out when the airstrikes leave our sky. Pray for us please.”