A surgeon who has returned from helping the wounded in Libya said the allies were doing the right thing by carrying out bombing raids on his home country.

Khaled Aneiba, a surgeon at Oxford’s Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and John Radcliffe Hospital, went out to help in the strife-torn North African nation last month.

He spoke of scenes of dying civilians and overrun hospitals as Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi’s troops approached the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

Dr Aneiba returned to Oxford on Sunday after three weeks of working with the Medical Arab League, during which time he delivered medical supplies, carried out operations and assisted local doctors.

He said: “It was horrendous to see the type of injuries and the number of casualties.”

Rebellions against Col Gaddafi escalated in mid-February, with uprisings spreading to the capital Tripoli by February 21.

And as Gaddafi’s troops fought to take back power, there were reports of violence against civilians.

Nato bombing raids began on Saturday as allies imposed a UN-declared no-fly zone.

Dr Aneiba said: “In Benghazi, we had people coming into the hospital split in two, or with their arms and legs missing.

“You expect that in a war, but not against civilians. It is difficult to understand. The hospitals are not up-to-date, have poor facilities and were not expecting so many casualties.”

Dr Aneiba is originally from Benghazi, but moved to the UK 16 years ago. He now lives in Headington with his wife, Hanan, and three children.

He said returning to his home city was upsetting. He added: “I have family and friends there. To see them struggling really affects you.”

But he said the UN’s decision to enforce the no-fly zone was greeted with celebrations into the night. He said: “People asked us if the West would stand by them or let them down, and at first we could not answer them.

“But when the decision came out, people were so relieved, there was euphoria.”

He added: “They are absolutely doing the right thing. When you are there and can see the fear in peoples’ eyes, you know that.

“When you are there, and see the bloody massacre we are preventing, you know it is the right thing to do.”