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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported this evening that after difficult negotiations with the rival tribes, it has . . .[restrict]now airlifted 28 sick or seriously wounded people from strike-torn Kufra to hospitals in Tripoli. The evacuation was completed using aircraft from the Libyan defence forces.
The head of the local ICRC team, Bruno Husquinet explained: “We came to Kufra at the request of both sides and of the Ministry of Health. A number of casualties were unable to obtain medical care in safety.
“We provided urgent medical assistance and offered our services as a neutral intermediary. After intense discussions, all those involved agreed to allow the ICRC to evacuate the wounded and sick people: first five from the Tebu tribe and three from the Zway tribe, then the remaining 20 Tebu.”
ICRC medical personnel, said Husquinet, ensured the patients were stable enough to be transported and that they were willing to leave.
In recent days, said the Geneva-based ICRC, it has delivered sufficient medical supplies to Kufra hospital to treat 50 patients and has also provided six dressing kits to the field hospital in the Tebu area.
“There is less shooting now, but the situation in Kufra is still tense,” said Mr Husquinet, adding that the ICRC remains in the area to respond to any further humanitarian needs.
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