Some 400 wounded people have received treatment at an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) field hospital in Peshawar since 2 May when the Pakistan army started fighting Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan militants in North West Frontier Province.
The 80-bed, five ward, tented facility has been taking in people with shrapnel, bullet and shell wounds, and severe burns.
“The ICRC initially supported local hospitals, but it soon became apparent that they lacked the expertise. War-surgery is very specific, and the ICRC has developed standard methodology and institutional experience in the field,” spokesman Sebastien Brack told IRIN.
“The surgical hospital is specialized in war surgery and admits only the most serious cases of weapon-related wounds.”
Along with 19 specialised expatriate staff, ICRC has also hired local surgeons and nurses who are learning specialized skills and methods: “We want to ensure that there is a cadre with the requisite skills and experience long after we leave,” said Brack.
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The 80-bed, five ward, tented facility has been taking in people with shrapnel, bullet and shell wounds, and severe burns.
“The ICRC initially supported local hospitals, but it soon became apparent that they lacked the expertise. War-surgery is very specific, and the ICRC has developed standard methodology and institutional experience in the field,” spokesman Sebastien Brack told IRIN.
“The surgical hospital is specialized in war surgery and admits only the most serious cases of weapon-related wounds.”
Along with 19 specialised expatriate staff, ICRC has also hired local surgeons and nurses who are learning specialized skills and methods: “We want to ensure that there is a cadre with the requisite skills and experience long after we leave,” said Brack.
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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