A dangerous practice in Syria

A makeshift hospital near the Lebanese border with Syria.

For Syrian Dr. Qassem Al-Zain it is a dangerous business.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN DOCTOR QASSEM AL-ZAIN SAYING:

"The biggest problem for us is to treat the wounded and the sick, because treating the wounded is considered a crime that is worse than carrying arms. Even when we were working in the government hospital there was strong restrictions against us treating any of the wounded."

He set up the hospital to treat people after what he said was a raid by the army on the government hospital where he used to work. He now uses a generator to supply electricity.

In the northern province of Idlib, wounded protesters sit motionless in another makeshift hospital

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WOUNDED PROTESTER ABU ABDUL, SAYING:

"I was in a protest carrying the independence flag, Assad's Shabiha (militia) came who don't allow us to protest and fired live fire and I got struck in my arm where it hit the bones, the guys here, God bless them, managed to treat us with basic equipment as you can see. All the people have serious injuries but we have no capability to get better treatment than this."

The United Nations says President Bashar al-Assad's security forces have killed more than 7,500 civilians since the uprising began a year ago. Many more have been wounded.

Amateur video out of Homs appears to show a part of a ground attack by Syrian forces.

Some weary Syrian rebels reportedly left the shattered district of Homs Thursday after a 26-day military siege.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.