Algerian Red Crescent funnels humanitarian aids to Northern Mali

As part of its humanitarian activities, the Algerian Red Crescent has decided to move to the tormented region of Kidal , Northern Mali, to funnel humanitarian aids across 400 Kilometres through the desert, for the local inhabitants that fled civil war in their country.

• The humanitarian trail has transported 70 tons of goods including food commodities (rice, dates, oil, semolina and tomatoes) and huge quantities of medical products.

• 50 tons were funnelled from the capital city Algiers to the border town of Bordj Badji Mokhtar, far south Algeria, in addition to the Red Crescent stocks based in the staging posts with Mali.

• The makeshift hospital, where groups of people were waiting for treatment, is deprived of the basic commodities. No drug, no medical equipment and required staff to face the growing demand of the refugees.

• The hospital suffers redundant power outages and the main generator is out of service due to the lack of fuel. Our reporters have noticed the total lock out when they passed nearby the hospital.

• The power infrastructures of Kidal have been completely damaged by the raging battles that broke out in the region between the conflicting parties.

• Mrs Fatima, has related to us her tragedy when she moved to the hospital for treating her son who was feverish. On spot the boy couldn’t receive any treatment because drugs were not available. She told our reporter in a pidgin Arabic, that the doctor consulted her boy but didn’t give any medicine advising her to use cold-packs to lower the temperature.

• “ Where can, I find cold-packs as I don’t have a refrigerator, even my neighbors cannot help me because theirs are out pf service die to the lack of power” , she said desperately.

• Kadia Mayinga was not better served than Fatima, the lady suffered from hypertension cause by the scorching temperature that exceeded 50°. The nurse took her pressure and asked her to leave without any medical treatment to lower her blood pressure.

• The population is living in complete despair and the presence of the Algerian Red Crescent has uplifted the spirits and retrieved hope. The head of the Algerian delegation, Doctor Adel Ghebouli has revealed that the Red Crescent intents to send important aids to supply the existing hospital after making a thorough assessment of the situation.

• “ We have agreed with the hospital’s manager upon the sending of Algerian medical staffs that will work permanently in Kidal to offset the shortage in addition to medial equipment and drugs”, he said.

• For his part , the hospital’s manager Moussa Agh Mohammed has sent an SOS” the drug stocks will not suffice to cover two weeks, and the situation is worsened by the absence of power and lack of fuel which is necessary for the staring of the generator”.

• The manager went on saying that the hospital lacks of qualified personnel like specialists, middle-wives and nurses. He lauded the Algerian Red Crescent initiative but wished more because the situation is tragic, he said.

• Our reporters left the Algeria delegation that was discussing with its Malian counterpart from the Malian Red Cross the appropriate measures for the sending of further aids in the nearest future.