Central African Republic hospitals overwhelmed with injured

Hospitals in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic are overwhelmed with injured following the intense fighting of recent days. More than 200 people were admitted following the violence and 40 patients are still waiting urgent operations.

On a visit to a community hospital, ICRC medical teams described the situation as catastrophic. The corridors are overflowing with injured and the medical staff are struggling to cope.

Chief spokeswoman Carla Haddad Mardini says "there is no running water in the city nor in the hospitals, electricity is becoming scare and fuel supplies running out. Medicines are in such short supply that hospitals are not admitting new patients, including women about to give birth".

Looting is continuing in the capital and it is difficult for ICRC teams to move around the city to deliver aid. However Haddad Mardini says they are determined to stay and bring aid to those in need".
 

SHOTLIST

Location: Geneva HQ
Length: 01. 38
Format: Mpeg2 / 16:9 anamorphic / HD
Production: Claire Doole
Camera: Nicola Fell
Sound: English/French
ICRC ref: AV065
Date: 27th March 2013

Copyright: ICRC access all

SOUNDBITE: Carla Haddad Mardini, Chief Spokeswoman ICRC

0:00 The situation in Bangui is catastrophic. There is total lack of security. It is very difficult for our teams to move around the city to deliver aid and looting is still going on. But we are determined to stay and to bring aid to those in need.

0:15 The hospitals in Bangui are completely overwhelmed. We have heard that the corridors are filled with patients. Our doctors on the ground say there is no running water in the city nor in the hospitals. Electricity is becoming scare. Fuel is becoming limited It is very difficult for them to treat the patients and cope with this chaotic situation. What we have heard is that there are not admitting any new patients including women about to give birth.

00.44 La situation a Bangui est catastrophique. Il y a un manque total de sécurité et nos équipes sur le terrain n'arrivent pas à circuler pour acheminer l'aide et les pillages sont monnaie courante et continus. Donc il est très difficile d'opérer sur le terrain. Nous sommes quand même déterminés à rester et nos équipes font de leur mieux pour acheminer l'aide aux hôpitaux et évacuer les blessés.

01 07 Les hôpitaux de Bangui sont bondés de patients. Nous avons appris que les couloirs étaient remplis, qu'il n'y avait pas de place. Il manque de médicaments, les stocks sont de plus en plus rares. Il n'y a pas d'électricité de manière régulière, l'eau courante est inexistante et le personnel médical travaille dans des conditions extrêmement difficiles. Nous venons d'apprendre que les hôpitaux refusent d'admettre de nouveaux patients, y inclus les femmes en enceintes sur le point d'accoucher et cette situation nous préoccupe.

01 38 FIN