By Jamie Prentis.
Tunis, 19 April 2017:
Sirte’s main hospital, the Ibn Sina, is to reopen next week following extensive repairs to damage caused by the fighting last year as the so-called Islamic State (IS) was ousted from the town.
Last week a medical team carried out a three-day deep clean of much of the hospital including its intensive care, surgical and neonatal departments. Sirte has been given $7.6 million to rebuild its hospital.
Last week the UN handed over the keys to ten ambulances intended for Sirte to Presidency Council head Faiez Serraj.
Following his release two weeks ago, Sirte’s mayor Mukhtar Al-Madani has been busy checking on the town’s rebuilding. He inspected the University of Sirte yesterday, ahead of its planned reopening on 30 April.
Madani disappeared on 11 February along with two bodyguards while on his way to Tripoli. Little else has been revealed of his ordeal.
Unfortunately, it is not all good news from the town. There continues to be a danger from unexploded ordinance and there is still some looting going on. Last night thieves stole more than a kilometre of electrical copper cabling which plunged a local farm in to darkness.However Sirte police say they caught two suspects with some cables and they are questioning them in Misrata.
