CNN Goes Inside Rebel-Held Syria.
PEREIRA: When rebels took control of the Syrian provincial capital of Irbil, they saw it as a crucial opportunity to demonstrate that they could build their own state and believe that's exactly why Russia is bombing all civic institutions into dusts, court houses, schools, even a Doctors Without Borders hospital has been leveled in recent months at the Kremlin's vicious aerial campaign. But the few doctors left behind say they cannot abandon their moral obligation to the people. Our senior international correspondent Clarissa Ward, she went into rebel-held Syrian territory where virtually no Western journalists have gone for about year. And she joins us with her exclusive report, even bringing us terrific and amazing stories, and now you are taking a look at what it's like inside for these medical professionals?</s>CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. We heard from so many people in rebel-held areas that what they felt like was it a war against everyday life, this was a war against anytime they would try to build sep semblance of a functioning society, they felt like it got bombed. So, we took a look particularly at court houses and hospitals to see just how they have been affected, not only by the regime's bombardment, but by the Russian military intervention. I should say this piece was shot before the cessation hostilities and before the news Russia would be withdrawing its military. But take a look. I think you will be surprised.</s>WARD (voice-over): It's an all-too common sight in rebel-held parts of Syria, the moments after the air strike. Dazed survivors stagger from the rubble, and those still trapped call out for help. The target this time, the court house in Idlib City, activists say the bombs were Russian. (on camera): When rebels took this provincial capital of Idlib, they saw it as a crucial opportunity to demonstrate that they could build their own state and they believe that's exactly why the Russians bombed this courthouse, to undermine that effort. (voice-over): Any civilian infrastructure is a potential target, including hospitals. Last month, four were hit in a single day. One, in the city of Maarrat Numan, was supported by Doctors Without Borders. This is what remains of it now is ruins, and at least 25 people were killed. Dr. Mazen al-Souad was the general manager. He told us that Russian and regime forces target hospitals cynically and deliberately.</s>DR. MAZEN AL-SOUAD (through translator): They want to kill the maximum number of people. Also they want to forbid the area from having medical service. If there is no doctor, no nurse, no hospital, then there is no healthcare for the people and people will flee.</s>WARD (on camera): Is it possible that they didn't know the building was a hospital?</s>AL-SOUAD: Everyone knows this is a hospital. There was even a sign that said this is a hospital. But if they didn't know, this is an even bigger disaster because if you are bombing a building like this without knowing it's a hospital, it means you are hitting totally indiscriminately.</s>WARD (voice-over): Against the backdrop of this vicious war, Islamist factions have gained the upper hand, including al-Qaida affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra. The landscape is peppered with signs shunning Western democracy, and urging all men to join the jihad. And one encourages women to cover up completely. Dr. Fera al-Jundi works at the only hospital still standing in Maarat Numan. He's no militant, but sees this conflict in black and white.</s>DR. FERA AL-JUNDI (through translator): The whole of the Syrian people is against ISIS and against extremism but we see that the Russians are bombing far from ISIS and they're focused on civilian areas.</s>WARD: I asked him why he doesn't leave Syria?</s>AL-JUNDI: If I did that, I would abandon my conscience. This is our country, we can't desert it. If we left, then we have sold our morals. Who would treat the people? I can very easily leave, but we will remain steadfast. I am prepared to die rather than to leave. And I will carry on no matter what.</s>WARD: Carry on in the faint hope that for the next generation of Syrians, it will be better.</s>PEREIRA: So powerful to see that response from him so emotional. That doctor in seeing the hospital that was hit, is there any sense of the scale of how many hospitals have been destroyed and hit with the air strikes?</s>WARD: Well, this is what was interesting, Michaela, we did research before we did this story and we wanted to know how widespread this phenomenon was, because, obviously, and the Russian air force and the air force of the regime said they never targeted hospitals, or any civilian infrastructure, but we looked at a report at a Doctor Without Borders just for 2015, and only looking at rebel held areas, and they said that 82 medical facilities, 82 medical facilities hit last year, 12 of them were absolutely destroyed by those hits. And I just wanted to give you a couple other figures that stayed with me from this report, and just that area in northwestern Syrian area where we were, that rebel-held area, 462 children under the age of 5 were killed last year, and in and around Damascus rebel-held area, 420 women and children were killed in 2015, really giving you a sense that civilians are very much bearing the brunt --</s>PEREIRA: Absolutely, the innocents in harm's way. That doctor and others that you spoke to, what are their sense of these peace talks going on in Geneva?</s>WARD: Well, it's interesting because, of course, people on the ground want peace.</s>PEREIREA: Right.</s>WARD: Of course, they want their lives to improve. They want an end to the bombardment. At the same time they don't feel their voice and their needs are being represented or heard in Geneva. They feel that they are kind of unwitting pawns in this game of chess between super powers that is going on.