Libya: bolstering health care in case of a major humanitarian crisis
The crisis in Libya shows no sign of abating. The United Nations estimates that more than 2000 people have died in the last two weeks and tens of thousands of foreign workers are crossing the borders into Egypt and Tunisia.
The violent clashes are causing many injuries and wounds. Hospitals and health centres must be reinforced with additional supplies to treat this type of injuries. Currently there is a shortage of surgical supplies, burn dressings and blood transfusion bags.
WHO has opened two emergency hubs at the borders with Egypt and Tunisia. Four public health officers have been dispatched to the border with Egypt as part of a United Nations joint assessment mission. WHO also urgently dispatched supplies including surgical and trauma kits from stocks in Norway and the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Brindisi, Italy.
Preparing for the possibility of a major humanitarian crisis, WHO has placed staff on stand by for rapid deployment and begun sending support staff from headquarters to the Regional Office in Cairo.