Britain to fund emergency medical teams for Libya

09 March 2011

The British Government will fund the International Committee of the Red Cross, enabling them to provide three medical teams to treat and provide medical supplies to 3000 people affected by the ongoing fighting in Libya.

The UK will also provide food and supplies to 100,000 of those most in need. This follows International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell’s visit to the area on Friday.

Support from Britain will deliver:

• Funding for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide three medical/surgical teams;
• Medics, medical training and supplies to enable hospitals to treat 3,000 affected by the fighting, as well as co-ordinating support to hospitals and facilitating delivery of medical supplies;
• Getting food and essential items like cooking sets and hygiene kits to 100,000 of the most vulnerable people still inside Libya;
• Funding for two ICRC rapid deployment teams to ensure these supplies get to those who need them most;
• Support for the Egyptian and Tunisian Red Crescent Societies working at the borders to help them ensure that families separated during their flight from Libya can reconnect.

Britain has already provided flights to ensure that more than 6,000 Egyptians and 500 Bangladeshis stranded in border camps have returned home.

Andrew Mitchell, International Development Secretary, said:

"The situation in Libya – both for Libyans themselves and for the many migrant workers remaining in the country – is of real and increasing concern. The picture is still unclear, but over 1,000 people have already been killed with many more injured.

“We need to get help to those in need immediately. But we also need to make sure that we have the right supplies and people in position to be able to react to all eventualities and meet future need in Libya and on its borders.”