Guinea: Providing assistance to victims of Conakry violence

Hospitals in Conakry were overwhelmed yesterday by an influx of hundreds of wounded following the violent repression of a massive protest in the Guinean capital. Médecins Sans Frontières teams present in the city have provided hospitals and health centres with medical material and assisted with evacuating, treating and feeding the wounded. Today two Médecins Sans Frontières ambulances are picking up more wounded and taking them to Donka hospital.

At least 300 people, including women and children, sought medical help at Donka hospital shortly after security forces opened fire on thousands of demonstrators gathered in a stadium. Médecins Sans Frontières staff assisting Donka hospital’s personnel report that most of the wounded had received gun shot wounds or been attacked with knives. Four women seen by Médecins Sans Frontières also reported having been raped. A Médecins Sans Frontières team working at the Matam health centre also treated 15 wounded yesterday, including 3 with bullet wounds.

Médecins Sans Frontières is now reinforcing its teams in Guinea and is preparing to respond in case further violence occurs.