Ismail al-Ayda, head of the emergency room at the Ministry of Health in the Government of Stability, said that the mobilization of health authorities in southeastern Libya came as a result of the announcement of alarming deaths by the Sudanese side, which reflects rising indicators of the cholera outbreak.
Al-Ayda explained in exclusive statements to “The New Arab” website that the city of Kufra is considered the most at risk as it is the closest Libyan city to the Sudanese border and a primary destination for Sudanese refugees.
Al-Ayda pointed out that the health institutions of the Kufra municipality responded days ago to orders to raise the state of emergency, stressing that the city has not recorded any cases so far.
He explained that preparations included equipping an isolation ward with a 40-bed capacity and an emergency and shelter department with a 120-bed capacity, in addition to providing solutions, serums, and supplies to handle any potential cases.
Comprehensive National Plan
Al-Ayda confirmed that the national emergency plan focuses primarily on the city of Kufra, as it is the first destination for those fleeing the war in Sudan. He noted that the plan involves several relevant ministries and bodies and is based on proactive monitoring and investigation measures.
Al-Ayda noted that field teams have intensified monitoring operations within Sudanese refugee gatherings, stressing that their increasing numbers pose an additional burden on the municipality and the Ministry of Health to provide necessary needs, especially healthcare.
He stressed that the Ministry of Health has called on international organizations to provide additional medical personnel to support monitoring and response efforts, noting that the crisis has regional and international dimensions, not just Libyan ones.
He affirmed that fears in Libya have increased after the World Health Organization announced the spread of cholera in more than 18 Sudanese states, with hundreds of deaths and thousands of cases.