Floods are the most frequent natural disasters, causing widespread mortality and devastation. In 2023, Storm Daniel triggered catastrophic flooding in Derna, Libya, leading to over 11,300 deaths and leaving more than 10,000 people missing. In response, the French Emergency Medical Team (EMT-FRA) ESCRIM, deployed via the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, arrived to provide critical medical aid.

The team set up a field hospital equipped with adult and pediatric care, ICU, radiology, and laboratory services, adhering to strict aseptic conditions. Data collection was performed daily by designated physicians, with records transcribed for analysis. Over the course of the 22-day mission, the EMT-FRA provided care to over 1,600 patients, with 7.6% undergoing surgery.

The anesthesia team performed 64 procedures, including 11 critical care assessments and 65 pre-anesthetic consultations. Surgical cases were primarily related to infections (49%), visceral issues (27%), and orthopaedic injuries (25%), including wound debridement, VAC therapy, amputations, and laparotomy. The surgical team carried out 64 surgeries and 126 consultations, with 83% of patients receiving emergency care for the first time. A significant number of procedures (78%) were dirty or infected, reflecting the local health challenges.

The deployment of EMT-FRA demonstrated its effectiveness in delivering high-quality surgical care during a crisis. Despite a lower than expected volume of trauma cases, the team successfully navigated linguistic and cultural barriers, while integrating into the local healthcare context. The mission highlighted the diverse surgical needs in disaster settings, underlining the importance of adaptable, well-equipped teams for future disaster responses.