The U.S. military strike on Venezuela in early January bombed a medical supply warehouse in the northern port city of La Guaira, placing thousands of Venezuelans who rely on dialysis at risk of losing life-sustaining treatment.
The destroyed warehouse in La Guaira was a national storage facility for dialysis and kidney disease treatment supplies. The U.S. strike on Jan 3 wiped out medical supplies sufficient for three months of treatment for kidney patients across Venezuela.
Patients at the local Dr. Alfredo Machado Popular Clinic feared that their life-saving treatment would be interrupted.
"At first, I thought we wouldn't be able to receive dialysis that day (Jan 3). But the technical and nursing staff acted quickly, and we were still treated on the day of the explosion," said Jomer Toro, who has been undergoing dialysis for nine years.
"Of course, [the bombing put patients' lives at risk.] These supplies give us a chance to stay alive and are very important to us. They are essential for dialysis. Some patients need treatment three times a week, and some even require continuous dialysis," said Cristian Mujica, who needs lifelong dialysis for end-stage chronic kidney failure.
The medical supplies stored at the clinic typically last about one week. After the U.S. attacks, the clinic activated an emergency plan, reducing dialysis frequency and securing replacement supplies within a week to ensure treatment continuity.
"We stored medical supplies [in the bombed warehouse] for 9,000 kidney patients nationwide, enough for three months. So [after the bombing,] we had to activate an emergency plan. We resumed normal dialysis frequency 72 hours after receiving new supplies. During the period, dialysis treatment still didn't stopped, and now treatment is 100 percent guaranteed. No patients developed complications," said Nelida Lossada, director of the clinic.
To ensure dialysis treatment for about 9,000 Venezuelan kidney patients, the country received medical aid from Brazil. So far, Venezuela has received nearly 100 tons of aid, with an additional 200 tons expected in the coming months.
"War is never a good thing. [Bombs] fall somewhere, and they affect you and your family. It's hard to understand why you would be attacked for no reason, just for oil. It's absurd. Everything could be resolved through dialogue," Lossada said with tears in her eyes.
U.S. strike disrupts dialysis supplies, puts Venezuelan kidney patients at risk
A Chinese envoy on Friday called on factions in Syria to advance an inclusive political process and alleviate the humanitarian crisis, noting that the current situation in the country remains fragile.
Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said at a UN Security Council meeting that advancing an inclusive political process is key to resolving the Syrian issue. China hopes that factions in Syria will uphold the ceasefire and integration agreement reached and restore stability as soon as possible, he said.
"We welcome the efforts made by the Syrian transitional government to protect the rights of ethnic minority groups. We hope that factions in Syria will adhere to the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned principle, engage in inclusive dialogue, and advance the political reconciliation process," Fu said.
He stated that countering terrorism is a prerequisite for maintaining security. Terrorist forces remain active in Syria, posing a serious threat to the security and stability of the country and the entire region.
The evolving situation in northeastern Syria has given rise to security risks involving extremist group terrorists, causing widespread concern within the international community. Fu noted that facilities holding terrorists and the Al-Hol camp should receive high attention and be properly managed.
The Chinese envoy also stressed that alleviating the humanitarian crisis is urgent for improving the living conditions of the Syrian people.
"The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire, with 16.5 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Hundreds of thousands of people in the northeastern region have been displaced and are struggling in freezing cold and torrential rain. The international community, especially traditional donors, should increase humanitarian assistance in Syria and ensure that UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations receive adequate financial support. All parties need to help Syria recover and develop its economy in order to fundamentally address the root causes of its humanitarian plight and instability," Fu said.
Fu also pointed out that the situation in Syria is closely linked to that in the Middle East. The Golan Heights are recognized by the international community as occupied Syrian territory, and the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement should be observed. Israel should withdraw from Syrian territory as soon as possible.
He emphasized that China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security, stability, and development at an early date.
Chinese envoy urges political process, humanitarian aid in Syria
