The situation remains very tense in Libya despite the fact that more areas are becoming accessible to medical aid.
Médecins Sans Frontières MSF (Doctors Without Borders) has started working in medical facilities in the capital, and continues to work in other regions, donating lifesaving medications and supplies, and transferring patients in need of urgent medical assistance.
Tripoli
During the peak of the fighting, 16-year-old Ibrahim was hit by a bullet when he was driving in a car to the mosque together with his parents. © Niklas Bergstrand/MSF
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The medical situation in Tripoli is slowly improving, despite continuing shortages of electricity, water and fuel, which are crucial for households and medical facilities.
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Although hospitals are still stretched, they are now more capable of dealing with the backlog of patients.
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Shortages of medical personnel are being overcome as more and more medical staff return to their stations. Medical and non medical Libyan volunteers are also working to fill gaps where needed.
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Supplies of medicine and medical materials are getting replenished, but MSF teams that have visited and evaluated hospitals have seen that there are still shortages in specific medical supplies like external fixators, as well as medicine for the treatment of chronic diseases.
Migrants living in and around boats on an abandoned military base on the outskirts of Tripoli. 800-1000 migrants and refugees have gathered there in fear of harassment and violence. © Ron Haviv/VII
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On Thursday 1st September, an MSF surgical team started to work alongside local health personnel at the Ben Ashour clinic in central Tripoli, to operate on orthopedic cases (second line surgery).
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Migrants and refugees from sub-Saharan Africa continue to face deplorable living conditions and need access to basic essentials such as water and food. Hundreds are squatting in various informal settlements around the city, fearing harassment and arrest and unable to access proper medical care or security.
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MSF is currently carrying out medical consultations and distributing clean water in two different locations where approximately 1200 migrants are gathered. Since the 27th of August, around 350 consultations have taken place with a focus on women’s health and mental health support.
Misrata
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MSF is providing a surgical support in two Misrata hospitals. In Qasr Ahmed hospital, MSF is doing emergency surgery and trauma-related second line surgery. This hospital has two operating theatres (one was rehabilitated by MSF) and 151 surgical acts were performed in August. In Abbad hospital, MSF is providing surgical support on a case-by-case basis.
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With much of Misrata's health system absorbed by the conflict, hospitals and clinics are struggling to meet the normal health needs of the general population.
© Eddy McCall/MSF
In Qasr Ahmed hospital, MSF has treated wounded patients who had been transferred from Tripoli and Bani Walid. MSF is also providing post-operative care, including physiotherapy, for wounded patients who have undergone surgery.
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In Misrata , MSF has set-up a surgical mobile unit ready to be dispatched to locations where there is no capacity to provide urgent medical care or treat an influx of wounded. This unit is designed to stabilise wounded patients and perform life-saving surgery.
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MSF is running a mental health program in the city, which includes activities in the community, in the hospitals, and the city’s military prison.
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The MSF team carries out around 15 community group visits a month with around 200 people that participate in psychosocial group sessions. Activities also include training and consultations in 10 hospitals and health centres.
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An average of 100 new consultations per month are being carried out in these health structures, along with follow up visits with previous patients. Around 10 new patients are also being seen in the city’s military prison each week.
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MSF is also providing staff support, material support, and training in the Al Noor and Zliten Hospitals.
After receiving emergency surgery, this man was referred to the Ben Ashour clinic, where MSF is carrying out orthopedic surgery alongside Libyan medical staff. © Niklas Bergstrand/MSF
Benghazi
Zintan and Yerfan
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MSF is supporting the hospitals in Yefren and Zintan in Western Libya.
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MSF is providing staff, medical supplies and equipment to support the emergency room, the operating theatres and the post-operative care unit.
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Between July and August, MSF saw the numbers of wounded doubling, but the situation in and around Yefren is now calmer.
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In Zintan, MSF is providing psychological support in health centres to people affected by the violence.