Lampedusa: Another tragedy for people fleeing Libyan war
Lost at sea for nearly six days, without food or water on board, rescued people explained how they had no other choice than to watch other passengers die from starvation.
On the night of August 4, about 360 survivors of a boat lost near the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa required medical assistance from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and other agencies. Authorities estimated that the voyage, which originated in Libya, resulted in a dozen deaths.
The MSF medical team immediately triaged survivors at the port. More than two dozen people needed urgent medical care and were transferred to a clinic on the island.
"Most of patients were dehydrated and hypothermic, in an obvious state of shock. Some patients were suffering from severe abdominal pain and had skin lesions," said Mark Testa, an MSF doctor in Lampedusa.
Lost at sea for nearly six days, without food or water on board, rescued people explained how they had no other choice than to watch other passengers die from starvation. They kept repeating that they could not believe they had survived while others perished.
"Each new boat, each tragic refugee death is a stark reminder of the war across the sea. These people risk their lives to seek refuge on European shores," said Francesca Zuccaro, MSF head of mission in Italy.
MSF reminds all parties to the conflict, and neighbouring countries, of their responsibilities under international law to keep their borders open and offer protection to people fleeing Libya.
In Lampedusa, MSF has been working with a team of doctors, nurses and cultural mediators. The team provides primary care to patients at the pier and then does a medical follow up in the detention centers on the island.
Between February and July, MSF assisted almost 19,000 people who fled Libya. MSF's activities in Lampedusa are funded by private donors and the organization does not receive funds from the government of Italy.
On the night of August 4, about 360 survivors of a boat lost near the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa required medical assistance from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and other agencies. Authorities estimated that the voyage, which originated in Libya, resulted in a dozen deaths.
The MSF medical team immediately triaged survivors at the port. More than two dozen people needed urgent medical care and were transferred to a clinic on the island.
"Most of patients were dehydrated and hypothermic, in an obvious state of shock. Some patients were suffering from severe abdominal pain and had skin lesions," said Mark Testa, an MSF doctor in Lampedusa.
Lost at sea for nearly six days, without food or water on board, rescued people explained how they had no other choice than to watch other passengers die from starvation. They kept repeating that they could not believe they had survived while others perished.
"Each new boat, each tragic refugee death is a stark reminder of the war across the sea. These people risk their lives to seek refuge on European shores," said Francesca Zuccaro, MSF head of mission in Italy.
MSF reminds all parties to the conflict, and neighbouring countries, of their responsibilities under international law to keep their borders open and offer protection to people fleeing Libya.
In Lampedusa, MSF has been working with a team of doctors, nurses and cultural mediators. The team provides primary care to patients at the pier and then does a medical follow up in the detention centers on the island.
Between February and July, MSF assisted almost 19,000 people who fled Libya. MSF's activities in Lampedusa are funded by private donors and the organization does not receive funds from the government of Italy.
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