Mali: 40 casualties treated in Gao hospital

Mali: 40 casualties treated in Gao hospital

Geneva/Niamey, 28 June 2012 – Street protests and fighting between armed groups on 26 and 27 June in Gao, northern Mali, resulted in many casualties. A total of 41 people with bullet wounds were admitted to the city's hospital, which the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been supporting since April. One of those taken to hospital in Gao had to be transferred to Niamey, in neighbouring Niger, for a specialized operation.

"The patients are receiving emergency care in the hospital in Gao," said Susanna Cristofani, the ICRC's medical coordinator for Mali and Niger. "The medical personnel were able to cope with the sudden influx of casualties and are ready for any eventuality that may arise."

The hospital, which was looted at the beginning of April, has been up and running again for several weeks. The ICRC is providing it with medicines and with surgical and other medical supplies, making sure it has electricity and clean drinking water, and paying the allowances of the 124 health-care staff. "We have also made available to the hospital a surgeon, two other doctors, two nurses and a midwife," said Ms Cristofani.

The ICRC is very concerned about the current situation in northern Mali. It reminds all involved in the armed violence of the need to respect the civilian population and the wounded.

For further information, please visit our website: www.icrc.org

ENDS

© Scoop Media