Kyrgyz Hospitals Running Out of Blood Supplies: ICRC

Hospitals in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek are running out of supplies, particularly blood reserves, after treating hundreds of people wounded in an anti-government uprising, the Red

Hospitals in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek are running out of supplies, particularly blood reserves, after treating hundreds of people wounded in an anti-government uprising, the Red Cross said Thursday.

"We immediately intervened at hospitals which contacted us through the ministry of health to provide blood. They have a shortage of blood and medication," said Simon Schorno, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

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Schorno added that the supplies were immediately dispatched, but stressed that the ICRC's reserves onsite were "minimal" and that emergency health kits are expected to be delivered Saturday.

In a statement, the ICRC also said that it was "working with our Kyrgyz Red Crescent partners on ways to improve blood collection."

The relief agency estimated that the three main hospitals in Bishkek are treating more than 500 people wounded in the uprising on Wednesday which led to the toppling of strongman President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

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The Krygyz health ministry said that about 1,000 had been wounded and 75 killed in the violence.

A medical team is also to be dispatched to the northern town of Talas to "better understand" medical needs on the ground, said Schorno.

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The agency, which has 35 staff members in Kyrgyzstan, also called on the parties in the conflict to show "restraint and respect the principle of humanity."

Source-AFP
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