Source: CCTV News Client
Hurricane Daniel made landfall on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast on 10 September, causing severe flooding, killing and missing civilians, and injuring many locals and hospitalizing them. Recently, a reporter from the main station visited the largest hospital in eastern Libya.
Zhu Yunxiang: My current location is in the medical center in Benghazi, which is the largest hospital in eastern Libya. However, locals like to call this hospital "1,200" because there are 1,200 beds. Before the floods, there were still many spare beds, but now they are all occupied.
Tawfik is a resident of Derna, the flood-hardest-hit area, whose home was washed away in the floods. Barely able to save a life, he was already seriously injured when rescuers found him.
Tawfiq: I was injured all over my body, and I was infected in the wounds. The leg wound was also infected and the hand was broken. When I was taken to the hospital, the doctor said that I could not put a cast on my hand right away because the wound there was already inflamed.
Tawfik was then transferred to the Benghazi Medical Center for treatment, where he gradually improved under the care of local doctors. At present, most of the patients with minor flood injuries have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, and the remaining seriously injured patients still need to be hospitalized for further treatment.
Fathia, director of Benghazi Medical Center: The hospital has done all the necessary treatment, whether it is general surgery, orthopedics and neurology. Seriously injured patients still require further treatment and psychological counselling.
Many parts of eastern Libya, including Derna and Bayda, were hit by cyclones and floods, and local hospitals were also damaged in the floods, affecting the ability to treat patients. The director said that at present, the local hospital in Benghazi has reached a saturation capacity, but there are still a large number of injured people in the disaster area who have not been transported for treatment, and the hospital will send medical staff to the disaster area to provide medical services for local patients.
Fathia, director of Benghazi Medical Center: Due to the large number of people affected by the floods, the city of Derna was severely affected. To this end, medical teams are prepared, including surgical teams, gynaecological and obstetric teams, and surgical and orthopaedic teams covering all specialties. The teams take turns traveling to the city of Derna to provide services for chronic conditions and day-to-day care.