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International Medical Corps Prepares to Deploy Team to Assist Those Fleeing Deadly
Clashes in Libya
In Los Angeles:
Margaret Aguirre
Director, Global Communications
310.826.7800
maguirre@InternationalMedicalCorps.org
February 23, 2011, Los Angeles, Calif. ‐ International Medical Corps is preparing an Emergency Response
Team to deploy to the Egypt‐Libya border, where a large number of evacuees are expected to flee
fighting in Libya.
The United Nations Tuesday called on neighboring countries in Africa and Europe to not turn away those
escaping violence in Libya, while the Egyptian military set up a field hospital on the Egyptian side of the
border at El‐Salloum.
Italy and Egypt are among the countries expected to receive an influx of asylum‐seekers. The Italian
Foreign Minister estimated on Wednesday that Italy could see as many as 300,000 Libyans fleeing to
Italy. There are an estimated 1.5 million Egyptians working in Libya and the Egyptian security forces
estimate that some 10,000 Egyptians are already gathering at the border between the two countries.
International Medical Corps is deploying a team of medical personnel to El‐Salloum to assess the needs
and provide immediate medical assistance to returning Egyptian migrants as well as those fleeing the
conflict in Libya. Should the violence escalate in the eastern part of Libya, International Medical Corps
will be prepared to ramp up its assistance, and potentially access the eastern part of the country.
Col. Muammar el‐Qaddafi came to power 42 years ago in Libya and protests against his rule started one
week ago in Libya’s second largest city, Benghazi. Clashes between protestors and Qaddafi loyalists
intensified February 22 in the capital, Tripoli, indicating that this could be the deadliest in the string of
uprisings in the Arab world. At least 233 have been killed, according to Human Rights Watch, while
Internet has been cut off and foreign journalists are not allowed to enter the country. There are serious
concerns about major military actions in the eastern part of the country, which could trigger a large
number of refugees and IDPs.
For more than 25 years, International Medical Corps has responded to the needs of those displaced by
conflict, such as the 1994 Rwandan genocide and 1998 ethnic cleansing and conflict in Kosovo.
International Medical Corps is currently working inside Iraq and throughout Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon
to support displaced Iraqis, and assists thousands of refugees from Darfur on the Sudanese‐Chadian
border. In Pakistan, International Medical Corps is supporting the millions displaced by conflict and the
recent flooding.
Since its inception 25 years ago, International Medical Corps’ mission has been consistent: relieve the
suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster, and disease, by delivering vital health care services
that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated
populations to self‐reliance. For more information visit: www.InternationalMedicalCorps.org