'There is no one who smiles inside'

10:54 am on 21 October 2015

A doctor in Syria says the West is ignoring one of the greatest humanitarian disasters in history.

Amina Hmeid - from Deraa in Syria - carries her possessions on her head, as she and hundreds of other refugees and migrants attempt to walk to Austria.

Amina Hmeid - from Deraa in Syria - carries her possessions on her head, as she and hundreds of other refugees and migrants attempt to walk to Austria. Photo: AFP

Dr Zaidoun al-Zoabi, the head of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations told Morning Report everyone was losing hope the war would end.

He was speaking from near Aleppo, where tens of thousands have been forced from their homes because of renewed attacks on the rebels from the government and Russian air strikes.

People were scared for their lives, he said.

"Jet fighters are all over the skies and everyone is thinking how to leave this country," he said.

"When you ask people why they are leaving they say they may drown in the sea, but if they stay here they will surely die."

Syrians felt they had nothing to lose, as schools were closed, there were no hospitals, and they were constantly faced with the prospect of being killed.

"There is no one who smiles inside," he said.

"I don't think anyone will stay in Syria. You might come to the point where Syria is empty".

Hundreds of refugees and migrants - many from Syria - leave the transit zone of Budapest's main train staion for Austria on 4 September.

Hundreds of refugees and migrants - many from Syria - leave the transit zone of Budapest's main train staion for Austria on 4 September. Photo: AFP

More than 150 hospitals had been attacked this year alone, and people working in the humanitarian field were collapsing with exhaustion, he said.

"I'm very tired. Working around the clock, trying to get to anywhere, trying to serve here and there, provide the basic of the basic. At one point in time you feel 'I am collapsing, I can't take it anymore'. Give me one reason for people to stay in the country."

Syrians had been forgotten by the rest of the world, which was doing nothing to help end the war, he said.

"There is nothing that is worth all this death. You know how to end this war, end it for God's sake, how many times do we have to say that? Is there anybody listening?

"We don't have any more power to fight, to live."

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