Washington, D.C. ? Iraq only has a third of the doctors it needs because killings and kidnappings of the medical professionals prompted many to leave the country, its military surgeon general said Thursday.

A recent decline in violence is tempting some to return, said Brig. Gen. Samir Abdullah Hassan, surgeon general for the country’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and special forces.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters, Samir said he didn’t have figures for the number of doctors practicing in Iraq now compared to the number before the war. But the military alone has only about a fourth of the physicians its needs – there are 148 and the need is for 600 to 700, he said.