The hospital, which has a capacity of 600 beds, is one of the biggest in the region and had fallen into disrepair over the years. Mainly because of the conflict in the region, its buildings were in a ruinous state. The hospital faced a number of major problems: its damaged pipes meant that a clean, safe water supply could not be guaranteed, the sewage system did not work and the heating system was in urgent need of attention.

The project got under way in 2005 and was carried out in close cooperation with the hospital administration. Extensive repairs were made in the boiler room where three large pumps were replaced. The leaking central municipal water pipe was replaced and the hospital's own water and heating pipes rehabilitated. The external and internal sewage systems were put back in order and are now functioning properly. The project also included the following: repairs to the plumbing and the electrical system of the hospital laundry, the complete renovation of the generator house and the construction of a workshop, equipped with basic tools, for the maintenance team.

"The hospital's technical infrastructure was close to collapse," said Michel Vouilloz, ICRC water and habitat programme coordinator. "The project has given the hospital safe water, reliable heating and a working sewage system, which has improved conditions for the patients".

Supporting the medical infrastructure in areas of conflict is at the heart of the ICRC's mandate. The ICRC provides support to hospital management, ships drugs and other medical supplies and trains local staff with the aim of building up local capacity. At present, the ICRC gives regular assistance to almost 100 hospitals in 27 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In 2005, 296,601 patients benefited from the ICRC's efforts.