Libya: ICRC and Libyan Red Crescent deliver urgent medical aid

Urgently needed medical supplies today reached Al-Zahra Hospital in Warshefana, on the outskirts of Tripoli, in an operation carried out by the ICRC in cooperation with the Libyan Red Crescent.

Fighting in Warshefana has been under way for several weeks, leaving many people dead or injured and disrupting health services. The hospital, overwhelmed by the influx of war-wounded patients and virtually cut off from the outside world, has been beset by severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies.

"Health care must be available to everyone who needs it," said Dr Carmen Carrillo, the ICRC's health coordinator for Libya. "We delivered enough supplies today to treat up to 130 war-wounded patients, but this is only a temporary solution. We hope to be able to deliver more items as soon as possible."

The suture sets, wound- and burn-dressing materials and surgical supplies were safely delivered to the hospital despite the difficult security environment.

The ICRC has been working with the Libyan Red Crescent to support Libyan hospitals since the beginning of the current violence. It has so far delivered medical supplies to health facilities in Mitiga, Zawia, Aradah, Tripoli, Zintan, Benghazi, Ajdabiya, Abyar and Marj.

Owing to deteriorating security conditions, the ICRC temporarily moved its international staff to Tunis on 15 July. The organization is however carrying out its work in Libya through 130 local staff and is responding to emergencies and assisting internally displaced persons in cooperation with the Libyan Red Crescent and other local partners.

For further information, please contact:

Salah Uddin, ICRC Tunis, tel: +216 71960 179 or +216 26 90 34 85
Muhammad Mustafa Almosrati, Libyan Red Crescent Benghazi, tel: +218 91 792 5570 
Thomas Glass, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 31 49 or +41 79 244 64 05