( CNN ) -- Syrian security forces in last Friday 's bloody demonstrations blocked wounded protesters from getting medical care , a humanitarian watchdog said on Tuesday , citing witness accounts . The developments occurred in the Syrian cities of Daraa and Harasta , where many casualties occurred as protesters clashed with security forces , Human Rights Watch said . Security forces `` stopped medical personnel and others from reaching wounded protesters '' and `` prevented injured protesters from accessing hospitals , '' the group said . `` To deprive wounded people of critical and perhaps life-saving medical treatment is both inhumane and illegal , '' said Sarah Leah Whitson , Human Rights Watch Middle East director . `` Barring people from needed medical care causes grave suffering and perhaps irreparable harm . '' One witness in Daraa , in the south near Jordan , said `` the security forces did not allow the ambulances to approach the road to pick up the wounded , and kept shooting when other protesters tried to carry the wounded away . '' Another witness said he saw three people struck by bullets and carried into the Omari mosque , where he saw about 10 wounded protesters , `` three of whom died from their wounds while he was still in the mosque . '' `` People were lying on the floor ( of the Omari mosque ) , all over the place , and there were a couple of doctors and nurses , and also local women struggling to help the injured . But they could not do much -- they only had the basic supplies brought from the local pharmacies ; the hospitals were blocked by the security forces and it was impossible to bring the necessary equipment or supplies into the mosque . Several people with serious injuries were dying , and there was nothing we could do to help them , '' the witness said . In Harasta , near Damascus , witnesses gave accounts of security forces `` firing on protesters seeking to help the wounded . '' Two doctors who treated the wounded told Human Rights Watch `` that it was impossible to bring the injured into the hospital because it was surrounded by the security forces . '' `` I was in the hospital in the afternoon , when I started getting calls from people asking for help . I knew people could not bring the wounded in -- the hospital was surrounded by the security personnel . We also could n't send an ambulance , fearing the security forces would open fire , as happened in other places , '' one of the doctors said . `` I rushed out and went to private homes where the rescuers brought the wounded . I could not take any major supplies or tools ; only the most basic things . The injuries were serious and we had nothing to work with -- in one case , we had to probe a wound with a metal spoon to see how deep the bullet went . '' The family of an injured protester tried to get treatment for the victim at a military hospital , but were rebuffed because civilians could n't get treatment there . Security at a civilian hospital said only service members and not wounded civilians could get treatment . Protests started in Syria more than three weeks ago , erupting in Daraa and then spreading to other cities . The Syrian government , which says it is working to respond to citizen grievances , blames foreigners and instigators for infiltrating peaceful demonstrations and feeding violent confrontations . But Syrian activists say government forces are violently suppressing their peaceful demonstrations , using tear gas and live fire against unarmed civilians , raiding homes , and making dozens of arrests . The violence has alarmed the international community . The British Foreign Office on Tuesday is now advising `` against all but essential travel '' to Syria as a result of the country 's `` deteriorating security situation . '' Syria 's leaders talk about political reform , but they meet their people 's legitimate demands for reform with bullets , '' said Whitson . `` They accuse the protesters of inciting divisions in Syria 's society , but the violence of their security forces is what is harming Syria the most . '' The National Organization for Human Rights in Syria , an activist group , said there were 37 demonstrators killed across the country on Friday , including 30 in Daraa province , four in Damascus province and three in Homs province . Human Rights Watch said it `` confirmed that at least 28 people were killed '' in protests on Friday -- 27 in Daraa and one in Douma . It said it could n't get `` reliable information '' about casualties during protests in other towns . Syria said 19 security forces were killed in Daraa on Friday and dozens of others were injured in violence caused by `` armed groups '' firing at citizens and `` unarmed security forces . ''
The incident in question occurred in Daraa and Harasta . Witnesses spoke to Human Rights Watch . The wound was probed with a metal rod .