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VOICES FROM THE GROUND:
The Go Between – The Aid Smuggler
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WMCL has worked
with many aid organisations like IGO and the Red Crescent to get
medical supplies into Libya.
However sometimes, those on the ground needed to use unconventional
routes to get supplies to where they are needed.
In this the
second of our of interviews with people on the ground, we meet Laith*, a young Libyan, who has spent the last six
months travelling across the border smuggling aid not just for the WMCL
but many other people and organisations.
He doesn’t
see it as brave just helping out and doing his bit.
“I knew I
had to do something. I began by
helping out in Tunisia
coordinating relief efforts, managing supplies and organising the
release of shipments from the ports and airports. Libyans from all over the world
started to arrive to help and assist - packing, loading vans, driving
and doing whatever they could to help.
There was a great sense of Libyan unity.
On one
occasion we were in a small convoy of vans crossing along the border
when we were spotted by loyalists and they fired at us. We had to turn back. A day or two later we swapped the
vans for cars which were less visible to the patrols and got through.
You do
whatever you have to especially when you see the amount of casualties
and the huge amount of amputee children from Misrata
and the Western
Mountains – that
is heartbreaking.
Medicine and
food were used as weapons of war by Ghadaffi. By not getting them to people, we
were allowing him to win. He tried to stop supplies from reaching the
areas they needed them through.
For us it just wasn’t a consideration how to get supplies to
where they were needed, just to get them there by whatever means
necessary.”
*not his real name
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AWARENESS ISSUE:
FIELD HOPSITALS or MOBILE
UNITS
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WHAT ARE
THEY?
Those who grew
up in the 70s and 80s will remember the Robert Altman film Mash or the
TV series M*A*S*H*, of the same name, which depicted life in and around
a field hospital (the name was derived from the term Mobile Army
Surgical Hospital) and in the past they
were even called ambulances.
In the UK
we more frequently associate them with mobile medical units that look
after casualties on the ground, deployed during disasters such as the
Paddington Rail crash or 7/7, where casualties are attended to before
being transferred to a more permanent hospital environment.
In Tripoli, when the main A&E hospital Al Khadra Hospital (one of the largest in Libya)
was destroyed by a missile fired from near the now infamous Rixos - the field hospitals became the
hospital. The traditional
definition  of a medical staffed unit
with a mobile medical kit and wide tent-like shelter was a far cry from
the Libyan reality.
Despite the
bombing and conflict reducing clinics and hospitals to rubble, medical staff were not deterred. Brave medical staff set up surgeries
wherever needed, and worked with poor supplies and medical tools to
help the injured. They had no electricity or water and were constantly
under the threat of snipers or missiles.
Nor did the
overcrowding, due to the constant arrival of casualties and then dead
bodies stop them helping those who were in need. Even when local doctors were unable
to travel to hospitals due to fighting, doctors from other cities such
as Misrata, Zawiya
and the Nafusa mountains and abroad carried
on through night, sleeping where they work.
All the hospitals have different, specific requirements
in terms of medical equipment, medication and specialists - the WMCL is
in direct contact with individuals at the hospitals, we know exactly
what is needed. Right now it is
medical professionals
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Artist in Focus:
Mohammed Bin Lamin
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 Mohammed Bin Lamin is a
born and bred Misratan artist, painter and scultor.
Two days before the revolution he was arrested and
imprisioned in Abu Salim.
Fortunately Mohamed (Different spellings of Mohamed) escaped
with his brother around a month ago and has been staying at a safe
house.
(See Independent article on Libyan Prisons http://ind.pn/pt8VYi).
Drawing on on the many ancient and
prehistoric influences of Libyan history and landscape – Mohamed’s
creations have a surreal and evocative sense to them that set his
work apart. His art has been
exhibited all over the world from the UK
to China.
More information on his work: http://bit.ly/bzqe6Q
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WMCL during Ramadan
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Our fundraising
saw IFTAR at Al-Dar restaurant and raised several thousand
pounds! As everyone at WMCL knows
every pound saves lives and we’re greatful for the support of the 70
people who joined us. If you
would like to organise or partipate in our fundraising events please
email events@wmclibya.org
PRESS & MEDIA APPEARANCES
During the last few
weeks various members of the WMCL have been interviewed or appeared
on BBC World, BBC News, ITN, Sky, BBC Radio 4, CNN, The Independant,
Press Association. Email press@wmclibya.org
for more info
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In this issue
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VOICES FROM THE GROUND:
The Go
Between – Aid Smuggler
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AWARENESS ISSUE:
Field
Hospitals
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FORGOTTEN LIBYA:
Tripoli Grand Prix
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ARTIST IN FOCUS:
Mohamed
bin Lamin
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FUN’&’RAISING
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NEWSLETTER
Issue 002 SEP-2011
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EID Mubarak
What an incredible time of family
reunion and celebration this EID is.
Several of our volunteers are
currently in Tripoli. One wrote and described his arrival
and sent the photo.
 "The
feeling of just being here was so surreal but very satisfying. Everyone
is now talking to each other, everyone is friendly, helping each other
out, looking out for each other, people have
smiles on their faces. All the cars are playing the anthem, revolution
songs, children are singing and not a single picture of him to be seen
anywhere in the city. The whole atmosphere fills you with so much hope
and ambition. You can feel how hard they’ve worked for this"
This newsletter continues to
celebrate Libyan life and culture by reflecting focussing on the work
of Artist, Mohammed Bin Lamin and the
forgotten Tripoli Grand Prix.
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OUR funD RAISING EVENTS
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11-Sep-2011:
ABSEIL WITH WMCL & FUN EVENT
If you want to
help why not abseil with us and get your friends to sponsor you and
raising money with us by registering on http://is.gd/D7fADm we have places
left.
■ The Time: 11
September 2011 9:00am – 6:00pm
■ The Place: Guy’s
Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1
This weekend, a group of sponsored volunteers will
abseil off Guy’s Hospital to raise much-needed funds for humanitarian
and medical aid for the victims of the conflict in Libya.
The World Medical Camp for Libya (WMCL) will also host a celebratory fun events
in the Atrium at Guy’s Hospital.
Everyone is welcome to come along to enjoy the food, drinks and a
number of family-friendly activities. There will be an emphasis on
celebrating Libya’s
heritage and culture.
The WMCL has and continues to be an
organisation run by volunteers, we use our combined skills to
keep overheads to a minimum and ensure that approximately 99% of the
money and pledges we raise go directly to where it’s needed – the
people of Libya.
Our full
charity status allows us benefits such as claiming gift aid.
E:
events@wmclibya.org
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FORGOTTEN LIBYA: TRIPOLI
GRAND PRIX
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Tripoli Grand Prix was first
held in 1925 on a racing circuit outside Tripoli, the capital of what was then
Italian Tripolitania. It lasted until 1940.
A popular sport in Italy
and the colony was seeking methods to raise capital and promote
tourism. In 1929, in the Alfa
Romeo P2, Count Gastone Brilli-Peri
won the Circuit
of Cremona and the Tripoli Grand Prix in Italian
Libya but the following year was killed during
Saturday practice for the sixth Tripoli Grand Prix and initial
enthusiasm and sponsorship died out.
Click here for Documentary Footage
The president of Tripoli's auto club, organised another Grand Prix, on a purpose
built European style racing circuit.
This new Mellaha
Lake track was a 13.140 km
situated in a salt basin between Tripoli,
Suq al Jum'ah (also
known as Suk el Giuma
or Sugh el Giumaa (سوق الجمعة))
and Tajura. The track's most distinctive
landmark was a brilliant white concrete tower situated across from a
large front stretch grandstand that could hold up to ten thousand
people. Mellaha Lake
was equipped with starting lights, an innovation, and the additional
amenities rivalled the best that continental European circuits had to
offer.
With the onset of the second
world war the Tripoli Grand Prix was never held again, the dream of a
successful Tripoli Grand Prix ended there and then.
(source Wikipedia)
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REMEMBER TO HELP US HELP LIBYA
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DONATION
PAYPAL.
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