Download Introduction Overall, the situation on the western front, outside of

International Medical Corps
Libya, Egypt & Tunisia SitRep 67 External
June 27, 2011
Introduction
In addition to providing care for casualties of the conflict at the Dafniya field hospital,
International Medical Corps is also providing training to Emergency Medic Students.
Overall, the situation on the western
front, outside of Misurata, has been
quieter since last Wednesday when
NATO began to target Gaddafi
positions. In the past few days, the
Dafniya forward aid station and field
hospital have received fewer
casualties from the front-lines.
Shelling continues on a daily basis
on all fronts, with artillery and Grad
missiles forming the majority of
attacks on the western front.
Yesterday, a number of casualties
were received at the field hospital as the result of a “Hound” launcher being utilized by anti
government forces, which exploded as it was operated. This resulted in approximately six casualties
and one death. The Dafniya field hospital received a total of 21 patients throughout the day.
Today, there have been much fewer casualties on the western front, with just two patients attending
the field hospital for treatment. Late this afternoon, a number of rockets were heard impacting close to
the aid station. No injuries were received, but as these rockets were fired from the Southern front and
not the Western front, this situation will be closely monitored.
Power in Misurata is now back up and running, after some disruption to supplies last week caused by
the city power generators being changed over from fuel to gas turbines.
On Sunday, rebel fighters and Gaddafi forces battled over
control of Bir al-Ghanem, approximately 35 km north of
Yefren and only about 70km south of the capital. According
to the rebels, they launched a surprise attack at dawn on
the Gaddafi battalions stationed in the region of Bir alGhanem, and were able to advance to the outskirts of the
town. In addition to using heavy ship missiles and launchers
in defense of the town, there are unconfirmed reports that
Gaddafi forces used the town’s residents as human shields.
Following heavy fighting, it is reported that three rebels
were killed and three were injured in the attack. Rebel
forces now report that they are on the southern and western
outskirts of Bir al-Ghanem.
In addition to this offensive against Bir Al Ghanem, there
are reports of the rebels preparing to attack Al-Ghazaya
shortly and also reports of an anticipated battle outside of
Zintan. A large number of Gaddafi forces are also reported
to have arrived in Al Khmasyah, 90km south of Nalut,
indicating that an imminent attack on Nalut is possible.
As of June 27, 2011:
LIBYA/TUNISIA BORDER AREA
On June 26, a total of 5,438 people entered Tunisia via the Ra’s Ajdir and Dehibat borders. According
to IOM, 1,095 Third Country Nationals who are residing in the Shousha, Al Hayat and UAE camps,
await repatriation assistance. Yesterday, a total of 3,794 refugees were residing in the Ra’s Ajdir
camp, while 1,588 were staying at the camps at the Dehibat border (778 at the Remada, and 810 at
the UAE camp). These numbers have remained largely unchanged over the past week.
International Medical Corps continues to provide services at the health posts in Ra’s Ajdir, Dehibat
and the Shousha camp. It has identified that a vehicle is needed to transport referrals from the health
posts in Ra’s Ajdir referrals to the Ben Gardane hospital and International Medical Corps is planning
to respond to this need.
Today, the International Medical Corps team at the Dehibat health post provided consultations to 41
patients, including eight children. Conditions treated included diabetes, hypertension, respiratory tract
infections and intestinal worms. The team also stabilized four war-wounded from the Western
Mountains (2 from Yefren, 1 from Jadu, and 1 from Zintan). Once stabilized, these patients were
referred on to the hospital in Tataouine.
WESTERN LIBYA
International Medical Corps surgical teams continue to provide support to three health facilities in the
Western Mountains region. In addition, supplies are currently being sourced to provide needed items
to Yefren.
In Misurata, International Medical Corps is continuing to support the Al Hikma, Al Hilal, and Rustoba
Hospitals, with medical teams performing 18 operations and 112 consultations for the time period
June 24 to June 26. To strengthen local capacity to provide life-saving care, International Medical
Corps commenced Emergency Medic Training in Misurata on June 21. The training is attended on a
daily basis by more than 50 participants, mostly senior medical students, with course components
covered have thus far including basic life support, advanced cardiac support, patient assessment, and
head trauma. At the same time, clinical rotations for students are being undertaken at the Dafniya field
hospital to develop practical experience. By the end of the four-week course, trainees will be deployed
to the front-lines, to staff ambulances, aid stations, and receiving hospitals. The overall aim of the
training is to strengthen emergency medical and trauma care thereby reducing patient morbidity and
mortality in acute situations.
International Medical Corps’ Field Hospital in Dafniya has now been open for nine days and has seen
a wide range of casualties, including gunshot wounds, blast injuries, shrapnel injuries, major fractures
and head trauma injuries from the front lines. As of June 26, a total of 167 patients have been
provided with care at the hospital. International Medical Corps is working on increasing the capacity of
the field hospital, and will rotate in an additional eight nurses to Misurata to assist the field hospital
from Benghazi. Current needs include medical equipment, as well as a full-time surgeon.
EASTERN LIBYA
Since the outbreak of the crisis, International Medical Corps has provided more than 40 nurses to
eastern Libya, and is deploying an additional 15 nurses to Benghazi on June 27. As eight nurses from
Benghazi will be leaving for Misurata shortly, International Medical Corps will assure nursing coverage
in Benghazi Medical Centre until the new nurses arrive.
Following the commencement of International Medical Corps’ Mobile Health Team (MHT) to Al Marj
last week, MHTs have now started services in Ajdabiya and surrounding areas to also provide primary
health care support in these needed areas. According to a schedule arranged in coordination with the
health committee in Ajdabiya, services conducted by International Medical Corps will include two
regular visits to Boshala polyclinic in Ajdabiya per week and a visit every ten days to surrounding
areas including Soltan, Zwitina and Albydan. Each MHT includes two pediatricians, a general internist,
an OB-GYN specialist, a nurse and a volunteer medical student to assist with patient registration, vital
signs, and nutritional screening. The two pediatricians will comprise of a “junior” and a “senior”
pediatrician, so that field visits will develop skills and experience of more junior pediatricians in
outpatient primary care.
International Medical Corps’ mobile health teams for eastern Libya have been provided with training
on psychological first aid, gender-based violence guiding principles as well as clinical management of
rape. By receiving this training, the mobile medical teams will better be able to provide support to
those affected by the conflict, including cases of sexual assault.
From June 21-26, International Medical Corps conducted an additional psychological first aid training
course for medical staff at the Benghazi Medical Centre. An additional 46 people, including doctors,
interns, medical students, nurses, pharmacists, an anesthetist and a dentist, were provided with this
training. International Medical Corps is continuing to provide psychosocial first aid trainings to frontline
health workers to strengthen their ability to provide support to those affected by the conflict.
International Medical Corps is endeavoring to procure ARV drugs to meet the needs at the Benghazi
Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases where 426 children infected by HIV (iatrogenic
infections) ten years ago are being treated. International Medical Corps is endeavoring to provide a
short term supply of these needed medications to meet the interim needs until a longer term source
can be found.
In eastern Libya, International Medical Corps is also moving forward with plans to establish a
rehabilitation program and is undertaking assessments to identify needs.
Rabih Torbay
VP, International Operations
[email protected]
Hakan Bilgin
Country Director - Libya
[email protected]
Robert Lankenau
Team Leader - Tunisia
[email protected]