The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided essential medical supplies for Al-Jala Surgical and Accident Hospital in Benghazi, funded by the EU Department of Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), according to a press release by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya on Wednesday.

The press release revealed that about 60 thousand people in Benghazi will benefit from these basic medical supplies, pointing out that on December 21, the WHO provided 60 essential inter-agency health kits, 6 supplementary supplements and 9 drug kits for the treatment of moderate and serious injuries to Al-Jala Hospital in the context of its continuous support to the health sector in Libya.

It emphasized that the essential and supplementary medicines received are capable of treating more than 60,000 people for three months, while the pharmaceutical groups are sufficient to treat more than 900 moderate and serious injuries, noting that such supplies are especially needed due to the lack of basic medical supplies in Benghazi hospitals.

The press release pointed to the impact of the ongoing crises in Benghazi on the health care services in the city, which left hospitals incapable of operating at full capacity, owing to the shortages of health staff and basic medical supplies including medicines and equipment.

The representative of the World Health Organization in Libya, Dr. Syed Jafar Hussein, welcomed the continued support of the ECHO, stating that “responding to the urgent needs of underserved populations in Libya have been made possible."