In late March, a Médecins Sans Frontières team crossed the Turkish border into Syria in an effort...
• Wounded people and medical workers remain targeted and threatened, the international medical...
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Médecins Sans Frontières is seeking to scale up its assistance by reinforcing its team on the ground, sending additional medical supplies, and facilitating the evacuation of wounded and sick patients to safe treatment areas.
“We are currently looking at all possibilities to increase support to health facilities in order to respond to urgent medical needs, both inside and outside government-controlled areas,” said Laurent Ligozat, Médecins Sans Frontières director of operations. “As the frontline keeps shifting, our priority is to gain access to areas where the needs are greatest.”
In the city of Misrata, people are currently caught in a battle zone. According to several worrying reports received by Médecins Sans Frontières, the city’s hospital has been closed for several days due to heavy shelling. Wounded people are being referred to the two remaining clinics that are still functioning, which are reportedly overflowing with severely injured patients. Medical staff, working in dangerous conditions, are said to be desperately short of medical supplies, and facing enormous difficulties treating patients.
“Despite several appeals and ongoing negotiations with the authorities, Médecins Sans Frontières has been denied access to the western part of Libya on the grounds that there are no medical needs,” said Ligozat. “However, the situation in Misrata is reported to be critical, while medical facilities in other cities are also said to be overstretched.”
Médecins Sans Frontières reiterates its call on all belligerents to allow unhindered access to medical assistance for all Libyans affected by the violence. Médecins Sans Frontières also calls for the respect of medical facilities, personnel and vehicles carrying patients.
Médecins Sans Frontières is an international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to populations in distress. Médecins Sans Frontières’ response is based solely on the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence and on the medical needs of patients.
Médecins Sans Frontières in Libya:
After withdrawing from eastern Libya on 15 March, due to worsening security conditions, Médecins Sans Frontières teams returned to the eastern city of Benghazi on 24 March. They are providing medicine and medical supplies to health facilities, including anaesthetics and surgical materials for wounded patients, in coordination with the Libyan Medical Committee. So far, 44 tons of supplies have arrived in the country, with more on the way. Médecins Sans Frontières teams on the ground are being reinforced with additional medical personnel who will provide nursing care training. On 21 March, Médecins Sans Frontières sent a shipment of surgical kits for 300 wounded patients to the hospital in Misrata.
In Ras Adjir, Tunisia, at the border with Libya, Médecins Sans Frontières teams have been providing psychological support to people fleeing the conflict. They are also working in the transit camp at Choucha, where people are awaiting repatriation or resettlement. From the onset of violence in Libya, Médecins Sans Frontières’ priority has been to access areas with the largest needs.
Libya: Médecins Sans Frontières evacuates over 70 war-wounded by boat from Misrata - 05-04-11 10:03