Tigray conflict: in Mekele, Ayder hospital is overloaded [1/5]
Audio 02:22
Ayder Hospital is operating well beyond its capacity, with resources that continue to shrink.
© RFI / Sébastien Nemeth
By: Sébastien Nemeth Follow
6 mins
The conflict has been going on since November in the province of Tigray.
This northern region still plagued by violence between the former power of the TPLF on one side, the federal army, Eritrean soldiers and Amharas militiamen on the other.
The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and caused considerable damage.
Part of the health care system has collapsed.
Publicity
From our special correspondent in Mekele,
300,000 patients last year.
8,000 surgical operations.
A coverage area that reaches 10 million inhabitants.
Ayder Hospital is the biggest in Tigray.
But when conflict struck the province in November, the situation quickly turned to disaster.
“
There was no more electricity.
We used the generator, but it can't run all the time.
Many patients have died,
”explains Muse Tesfaye Asbaha, the administrator.
Then to continue: “
Even today there are cuts.
People are dying for lack of medicine.
We do what we can to save lives.
But when the number of patients explodes, and never-before-seen cases happen, it hurts a lot.
"
► To read also: Conflict in Tigray: targets of abuses, civilians pay a heavy price
"It's part of a genocide"
In the corridors, the caregivers are busy.
The services are full.
Khalayu Kundeya is a 76 year old priest.
He was seriously injured in the leg about 100 kilometers from Mekele.
He has been hospitalized for two months.
“
I was coming home from the church and there was a bombardment by the federal army on the village.
One of my neighbors was killed,
”he says.
The old man owes his salvation to the responsiveness of his son.
Living in the capital, Mickaël managed to transport his father to the Hayder hospital.
“
There was a health center, but because of the fighting all the caregivers fled.
Someone told me he was hurt.
I was able to contact the Red Cross to get him out of there.
These attacks are intentional.
It's part of a genocide,
”says Mickaël.
Patients who keep coming
Even though Addis Ababa declared the end of military operations in November, the violence continues.
Every day new patients of all ages arrive from all parts of Tigray.
Beriha Gebraye is 15 years old.
She comes from Samra at 60 km.
A bullet went through his head, gouging out both of his eyes.
She is now blind.
His father Gebraye Zennaba holds his hand.
“
The Eritreans shot people for no reason.
I took my injured daughter to a village and then we walked,
”explains Gebraye Zennaba.
Then he adds, "
I'm devastated to see her like this, but at least she's alive."
Others have lost everything.
This conflict is horrible.
We're killing each other.
The world has to react, it has to stop.
"
"If this continues, we are all going to crack"
Ayder Hospital is now operating well beyond its capacity, with resources that continue to be reduced.
Daniel Weldu is the emergency manager.
For him, the situation is not tenable.
“
I am understaffed.
Some have lost their families and had to stop because they can no longer concentrate.
Others fear insecurity.
Our employees are traumatized.
If this continues, we are all going to crack
”, fears Dr Weldu.
For the employees, only a ceasefire and the reopening of health centers in Tigray will improve the situation.
But for now, no one sees any change on the horizon.
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