Doctors fear drug shortages after clashes

Health facilities in Equateur's Provincial capital, Mbandaka, are overwhelmed with people injured in recent fighting between the Congolese army and insurgents in the town, raising concerns that essential medical supplies are running out.



"We are afraid we have a limited quantity of drugs for the casualties that we have received since Sunday [4 April] when fighting started between the army and the insurgents," Alex Isanzola, a doctor at Mbandaka General Hospital, told IRIN.



At least 30 people, including 23 who are seriously injured, have sought treatment at the hospital. Among the injured are three policemen and a soldier, he said.



"Our mortuary capacity is for 18 corpses only, but we have so far received 26 that we are struggling to accommodate," he said on 6 April, adding that disinfectants were needed.



Before the 4-5 April clashes, he said, patients could pay after treatment but were now required to pay upfront so the hospital could buy the drugs.



Antibiotics are the biggest requirement. "We need more drugs such as amoxicillin, ampicillin... and various [IV] drips, as the ones we had before the clashes are limited," said Isanzola.



However, Equateur Health Minister, Mwamba Mangueza, told IRIN he was unaware of the shortage. "The director of the hospital has yet to alert me on the possible shortage," he said.



Mangueza said the clashes had led to an increase in food prices as traders were reluctant to reopen their shops.



The price of a bowl of beans has increased from 800 Congolese Francs (about US$0.80) to 1,000 ($1.05) and that of a bottle of palm oil had doubled from 500 CF ($0.52), the UN Mission in the Congo (MONUC) said.



On 6 April, some traders re-opened their shops in the town but quickly shut down again after gunshots. According to Mbandaka Town Army Commander, Col. Makengo, the shots were fired as army soldiers intervened to rescue three Enyele militiamen from being lynched by a crowd.



Clashes began in Mbandaka on 4 April when a group of Enyele militiamen tried to capture several strategic points in the town.



The militiamen attacked the provincial governor's residence and several government offices before seizing the airport, which they held until 5 April when they were ousted by MONUC-backed army troops.



"Sustained firing with heavy artillery took place in several areas, causing thousands of people to be stranded in churches as they were celebrating Easter," said MONUC.



A Ghanaian peacekeeper was among those shot dead while his team was heading to the airport and a MONUC sub-contractor also died, according to MONUC.



Calm has been restored to a large part of the town with a heavy army presence. However, rumours over possible Enyele reinforcements remain, according to CARITAS, an NGO.



Clashes between the Enyele and Munzaya ethnic groups over fishing rights in late 2009 in Dongo, north of Mbandaka, led to the deaths of at least 270 people. More than 100,000 were displaced, according to government figures.



Attacks by Enyele insurgent groups have extended to security services and government offices, prompting an army intervention in December 2009. The insurgents have continued to conduct small-scale attacks against the army and some aid workers.



pc/aw/mw



See also: Congo's refugee crisis