Libya: Providing urgent medical care in Sirte

An injured patient is operated on in Kasr Ahmed Hospital in Misrata, Libya. © Benoit Finck / MSF

Médecins Sans Frontières finally managed to deliver medicines and medical supplies to Sirte on 3 October, which is at the heart of the current fighting. For the last ten days, Médecins Sans Frontières has attempted to deliver aid to Sirte where, according to doctors in the town, the healthcare situation has continued to deteriorate.

“They say that their hospital is overrun with wounded and they aren’t always able to respond to other gynaecological or paediatric emergencies, or treat people suffering from chronic conditions”, said Dr MégoTerzian, emergency response co-ordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières. “Moreover, they have to deal with cuts in power and water and a lack of urgent medical supplies.  They need anaesthetics, antibiotics, analgesics and blood for transfusions”, added Dr Mégo Terzian.

Initially, due to the fighting, the Médecins Sans Frontières team based in Misrata could only deliver medicines to a small town 10km away from Sirte.  Since 3 October, Médecins Sans Frontières has managed to send medicines and medical supplies to Sirte itself, notably an oxygen concentrator and wound dressing materials.

Emergency treatment was taking place at medical health posts close to the front lines of Sirte and Beni Walid.  So a medical health centre was set up in an old holiday home, 50km from Sirte.  Médecins Sans Frontières has provided the centre with logistical support, medicines and medical supplies and organised first aid training.  Once they are stabilised, the injured are taken by ambulance or helicopter to Misrata or Tripoli where the closest hospitals with surgical capacity are located.

In the Kasr Ahmed hospital in Misrata, a Médecins Sans Frontières surgical team looks after the urgent and wounded cases.  It also looks after prisoners of war who are being detained in local prisons and moved to this hospital for surgical operation.

Another consequence of the fighting which is taking place on both sides of Misrata is that civilians are fleeing the strongholds of the old regime, like Sirte and Beni Walid.  Some are heading to Tripoli and others are seeking refuge around Misrata or joining camps for internally displaced people in Kaddayia, Al Hicha and Wachka. Médecins Sans Frontières is monitoring the situation in these camps to ensure medical access for these displaced people. Notably, the town of Al Hicha has opened a camp for 2000 people where Médecins Sans Frontières is supporting the Libyan doctors by providing medicines.

Other areas of Médecins Sans Frontières activity in Libya

Médecins Sans Frontières has teams in hospitals in Yefren and Zintan in the west of Libya, where they are providing medical supplies and drugs.  Médecins Sans Frontières is also providing mental health support to people affected by the fighting.

In Misrata, Médecins Sans Frontières is providing medical care, including post-operative care, in many prisons in the town and offering mental health support to detainees, mostly soldiers who have been taken prisoner.  In Misrata, Médecins Sans Frontières psychologists play a supervisory role and give training to Libyan pyschologists.  They are also holding consultations within the community.

Finally, medical consultations, mental health care and the distribution of essential goods make up the various kinds of aid being offered to migrants sheltering in sites in Tripoli and around.