Jordan- Volunteer physicians' journey to Syria stalls at border 

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) More than 100 doctors affiliated with the Arab Doctors Union (ADU) have been camped out since Friday on the Syrian border, awaiting permission to enter the country, an ADU representative said Saturday.

The doctors have vowed to remain at the Jaber border crossing in Mafraq, about 90 kilometres north of Amman, until they are allowed to enter Syria to deliver medical equipment and services.

"We will stay here until the Syrian authorities allow us entry with our medical equipment," Mohammad Khawaldeh, a representative of the ADU, told The Jordan Times, adding that the physicians are from Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

"We have 22 ambulances and all the equipment and medicine needed to help wounded Syrians," he said, calling on the Syrian authorities to either let them in or allow injured Syrians to leave their country for treatment.

According to Khawaldeh, the ADU has allocated 100,000 to treat Syrians inside their country and 75,000 to help Syrians in Jordan.

Raafat Saad Zaghloul, an Egyptian doctor and member of the ADU, said he came to Jordan to help wounded Syrians who had fled to the Kingdom.

"I found out that the Jordanian government is doing its best in providing healthcare to Syrians, so I decided with my colleagues to go to Syria, but the Syrian authorities refused to let us in," he told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday.

Zaghloul noted that there are 150 more Egyptian doctors, in addition to those at the Jaber border crossing, waiting in Cairo to come join their colleagues in Syria once the volunteers are allowed in.

On Wednesday, the Jordan Medical Association cautioned its members against participating in any medical activities in Syria and said it has no connection with any parties that seek to send physicians and ambulances to Syria, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.