Médecins Sans Frontières assists in treating victims of DRC fuel tanker disaster

Médecins Sans Frontières is supporting the hospital in Uvira, eastern DRC, after a fuel tanker crashed and exploded in the nearby village of Sange late last week. The crash killed up to 242 people and left countless people injured. Over the weekend 43 people with severe burns have been admitted to Uvira General Hospital. Three more people with severe burns have been transferred from a hospital in Lemura to Uvira after the weekend. Médecins Sans Frontières has sent two medical doctors and medical material to the hospital to assist the Ministry of Health in treating the wounded. Médecins Sans Frontières also provided transport for the evacuation of wounded to the two referral hospitals in the provincial capital Bukavu. The General Hospital in Bukavu received 12 patients with severe burns for further treatment, the Panzi Hospital received 15 patients. Coordination of the emergency aid effort is through the provincial governor’s office.