Category: Africa,Central African Republic,Health,Humanitarian Aid,Not For Profit,MBC

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: Central African Republic: MSF (Doctors Without Borders) Treats Wounded Amid Violence in Bangui

The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has treated 80 wounded patients amid violence in Bangui over the past week.

In the early morning of April 8, United Nations and Central African Republic security forces launched a joint operation in the PK5 neighborhood in Bangui, which involved heavy fighting and resulted in dozens of people wounded.

MSF teams treated 40 wounded patients on April 8. This included 24 treated by MSF’s surgical teams at Sica Hospital, and others who received first aid at MSF’s Gbaya-Dombia maternity center.

After fighting resumed in PK5 on April 10, surgical teams at Sica hospital received a new influx of 40 patients that evening, when Red Cross ambulances were finally able to evacuate the wounded. The vast majority had gunshot wounds, and several suffered shrapnel or stab wounds.

Elsewhere in Central African Republic, MSF teams in Bria, Bambari, Kabo, Batangafo reported tensions in their respective cities on April 11 and the following days in reaction to the events in PK5. In Kabo and Batangafo, movements by MSF and other aid organizations have been restricted by armed groups.

Outside of Bangui, many areas of Central African Republic have experienced violence in recent years, as different areas of the country are under the control of different armed groups. Combatants have inflicted extreme levels of violence on the local population, often on the basis of religious or ethnic status, as well as on medical structures, ambulances, medical staff and patients. Over the last year, MSF has experienced about 40 violent incidents in Central African Republic, including physical assaults on staff and patients, armed robbery and killings.

MSF provides medical services in 12 locations in Central African Republic, including three medical facilities in Bangui.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: Central African Republic: Trauma unit ‘completely full’ after violence in Bangui

The trauma unit at a major hospital in the Central African Republic is filled to capacity after an outbreak of fighting in the capital, where ambulances transporting the wounded have often been delayed because of street battles and barricades.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Central African Red Cross (CRCA) are providing emergency services following the eruption of violence in Bangui’s PK5 district on April 8.

“Our 34-bed trauma unit at Bangui’s Community Hospital is completely full,” said Marcelle Baltzinger, ICRC’s hospital project manager. “We have set up a close surveillance room and another casualty ward. They are full as well. We have two tents ready to be put up in case of need. They can accommodate at least another 20 patients.”

Bangui’s Community Hospital has received 52 people injured in the fighting so far. Ten surgical operations were carried out on Tuesday, including eight by an ICRC surgeon. At the same time, CRCA volunteers have been working in the hospital around-the-clock to carry patients on stretchers, run triage, and give support to ensure that people receive quick care.

Ambulances manned by volunteers who have been transporting the wounded from a CRCA-run clinic in PK5 were often stalled due to the street violence and barricades, delaying the arrival of patients in critical condition to Bangui’s Community Hospital.

“Every person who is wounded or in need of medical care during violence is entitled to safe and timely access to facilities where they can be treated,” said Diana Stoecklin, the acting head of the ICRC’s delegation in CAR. “In PK5, where only basic medical services are available, our ability to save lives depends on our ability to quickly move patients to more advanced facilities.”

Although the situation was calm overnight Wednesday to Thursday, the situation remains highly unpredictable. “We remind all parties involved in the fighting in the strongest terms not to target, damage or harm medical facilities, personnel, patients and transport used for medical purposes,” said Ms Stoecklin. “These are basic principles of humanity.”

As an independent, neutral and impartial humanitarian organization, the ICRC provides medical assistance based solely on need, regardless of the political, religious, or ethnic affiliation of the wounded.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).