You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service.

This is Hard Talk with me, Sean Lay.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the programme, and I hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Sean Lay.

Idlib, Syria's sole remaining rebel province is on the verge of the biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st century. So says the UN's top official

responsible for emergency relief. My guest today is Dr. Mufad al-Hamadeh, President of the Syrian-American

Medical Society and the medics he sends to Syria are saving lives. He's been to Idlib this year and

seen for himself the carnage of war and how hospitals and and clinics which should give sanctuary, have been bombed.

After nine years of war, have we become indifferent to Syria's pain.

Mufidel Hamaday, welcome to Hard Talk.

You visited Idlib in late January.

How would you describe what you saw there?

Well, I'm originally from Idlib.

I was born in Idlib in 1959. I gave

away my age quickly. But I, and I know Idlib very well because I visited Idlib many times after that.

Idlib used to be a very small, quiet, boring town. I never used to like going there with my parents.

I was very excited to visit Idlib this time, actually contrary to my previous visits.

But Idlib is a different place today, totally different. It transformed to a very busy city.

It is very crowded. Most of the people who are in Idlib now

are not originally from Idlib. They have been displaced from other towns and other cities in Damascus.

So Idlib transformed itself from almost 100,000, you know, inhabitants to almost over a million now.

So, there isn't enough room for people to have shelter.

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