Reply #3: Libya: Médecins Sans Frontières Evacuates 71 War-Wounded from Misrata By Boat [View All]

[Turborama]

Sfax, Tunisia/Geneva, April 4, 2011 — The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) evacuated 71 patients by boat Sunday, April 3 from the Libyan city of Misrata, where ongoing violence has overwhelmed medical facilities with the wounded.

Among the evacuated patients were three people on life support, 11 people suffering from major trauma, and many others with abdominal wounds and open fractures. Intensive medical care was provided on board as the boat sailed to Tunisia, where it arrived this morning.

“We managed to dock at Misrata on Sunday afternoon, despite intense fighting in the city over the past few days,” said Helmy Mekaoui, an MSF doctor who coordinated the medical evacuation. “The violence caused an influx of wounded people and it was fortunate we could be there and get them onboard.”

The hospital in Misrata reportedly came under bombardment early Sunday. Remaining functional health clinics in the city are overflowing with severely injured patients and are running desperately short of medical supplies.

Full article: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=5163&cat=press-release