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INSIDE KOBANI: War clinic treats anti-IS fighters

In this Nov. 21, 2014 photo, Dr. Mohammed Arif helps to deal with a wounded patient at a field hospital in Kobani, Syria. Like much of this besieged Syrian border town, most of its medical clinics are now in ruins. Only one still stands _ its location a secret for fear it will be targeted. A small team of three doctors and five nurses work at this aid station, treating the flood of Kurdish and Free Syrian Army fighters who are holding the Islamic State militants at bay. (AP Photo/Jake Simkin)
In this Nov. 21, 2014 photo, Dr. Mohammed Arif helps to deal with a wounded patient at a field hospital in Kobani, Syria. Like much of this besieged Syrian border town, most of its medical clinics are now in ruins. Only one still stands _ its location a secret for fear it will be targeted. A small team of three doctors and five nurses work at this aid station, treating the flood of Kurdish and Free Syrian Army fighters who are holding the Islamic State militants at bay. (AP Photo/Jake Simkin) In this Nov. 21, 2014 photo, Dr. Mohammed Arif helps to deal with a wounded patient at a field hospital in Kobani, Syria. Like much of this besieged Syrian border town, most of its medical clinics are now in ruins. Only one still stands _ its location a secret for fear it will be targeted. A small team of three doctors and five nurses work at this aid station, treating the flood of Kurdish and Free Syrian Army fighters who are holding the Islamic State militants at bay. (AP Photo/Jake Simkin)

By Associated Press 3 min read

KOBANI, Syria (AP) – Like much of this battered Syrian Kurdish border town on the front lines in the battle against the Islamic State group, most of its hospitals and clinics now lie in ruins. Only one is still working – but its location is kept secret for fear it could be targeted by the militants.

Inside the tiny field clinic, saving lives and dealing with horrifying wounds of war comes first, and concerns such as keeping operating rooms sterile and cleaning up after surgery are on the back burner.

Blood is splattered across most of the beds and floors, and a small team of only three doctors and five nurses are providing the only remaining medical services in the town. They are sometimes forced to operate by torchlight since power generators regularly fail.

They treat a seemingly unending flood of wounded Kurdish fighters and members of the Free Syrian Army, just meters (yards) away from the front lines.

The Spartan clinic only has the very basic equipment and regularly runs out of supplies. Those with more critical wounds must make a mad dash for the border with Turkey, and wait there for a transport to a better hospital in the neighboring country.