'Libyan Doctors for Hospitals in Libya'

He risked his life to deliver the truth, but was unfortunately killed last Saturday while filming the military defeat of Gaddafi’s forces. He had memorably said, “I am not afraid to die, I am afraid to lose the battle”.

The report of the severe shortage of medical supplies being experienced in Libya was heard by Anja Listmann, who forms part of the NGO Bufamaschu which normally works in Burkina Faso in Western Africa.

Ms Listmann decided she could not remain passive and that she would get in touch with Medeor, a German medical aid organisation which she knew to be a sizeable organisation with good connections in times of crisis.

Medeor were not aware that the situation was as bad as it was, she said, and asked for more information, as not enough was available in Germany at the time. They immediately made a donation of €5,000 and began to collect medical supplies.

The concern was how to deliver these supplies to Libya, especially as the situation worsened; however the solution of sending items through Malta presented itself, she said.

Ms Listmann is in regular contact with Dr Nagi Idris, founder of Global Relief for Libya, which was set up this week, and a local coordinator, to gather information of the situation in Misurata, the needs and what can be developed.

Details of what is needed are received by Ms Listmann, who in turn forwards them to Medeor, the one and only humanitarian organisation which could send medical aid to Misurata, by sea. Together they work out the best ways to get aid to Libya.

‘Global Relief for Libya’ is a new umbrella organisation, set up by doctors who form part of ‘Libyan doctors for hospitals in Libya’, to coordinate all efforts and demands for medical aid in Libya.

She explained that Mater Dei Hospital has also offered its services in the case of people who are injured in Libya, should they arrive in Malta.

The first ship carrying medical supplies from Medeor left Malta and arrived in Misurata this week, she said, although the items were sent from Düsseldorf around two weeks ago.

The transport of the freight was also paid by Medeor. The items, although not abundant, were stored until they could be sent on to Misurata in the ship which was sent.

Shortly before the ship was sent information of a severe shortage of electricity, water, food and medical supplies, especially anaesthetic, were received, she said.

As it is medical personnel in Misurata are having to extract bullets from persons who have been hit without any anaesthetic and to perform surgery in the policlinic car park, she said.

There are too many wounded persons, the doctors are exhausted and can only keep the patients who are in danger of dying, she said, which currently amount to around 160 persons.

In fact there are only seven doctors working from this policlinic, which is replacing the main hospital which has been out of use for around two years, and it is very difficult for other doctors to get to the policlinic.

German Medical Aid Organisation Medeor and ‘Libyan Doctors for Hospitals in Libya’ are cooperating to provide urgently needed bandaging materials, antibiotics, pain killers and medical instruments to hospitals in the affected regions.

However no food was sent, since the doctors said that they could somehow manage food supplies, and that the need for medical supplies was much stronger, she explained.

“We hope to send another load of supplies in the very near future, and would like to send medical staff to relieve the others, although it is always difficult to find people willing to do something like this,” she admitted.

There is also a dire need for funds, she explained, so perhaps a ‘portable’ hospital can be bought, she said, urging people to help in any way they can, be it time, money or items which can be sent to Libya.