Airstrike in Syria kills S. African doctor, says lawyer

JOHANNESBURG, 14 Mar 2019 [Fik/News Sources]: A South African doctor volunteering at a refugee camp in Syria has been killed in an airstrike, his lawyer said on Wednesday. 

“I received the sad news that Dr. Feroz Ganchi was killed in an airstrike in Baghouz in Syria, days ago. I don’t have much details,” Yousha Tayob told Anadolu Agency via phone.

He said Ganchi was passionate about helping people affected by war, and was currently involved in medical and Islamic humanitarian work in Syria.

When contacted for a comment, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said it was still investigating the matter.

Many South African humanitarian organizations and private medical practitioners often visit Syria to volunteer at refugee camps.

This is the first time a South African doctor has been killed in an airstrike there, although kidnapping of a South African citizen was recorded two years ago.

In 2017, Johannesburg-based photojournalist, Shiraaz Mohamed was kidnapped in Syria and has since not been released.