Lebanon Faces Critical Health Crisis Following Unrest: WHO Report
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Hashim Sheikh - . December 21, 2024
- . Update: December 21, 2024 7:18 pm
Lebanon is in an unprecedented health crisis because thousands of people require reconstructive surgery and long-term rehabilitation as a result of the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire, the WHO office in Lebanon said. Since October the numbers are tragic: over 4000 fatalities and 17 thousand people injured and that is not a complete list of countries affected yet. Many more victims are still expected to be buried under the debris of 16000 affected structures with a total rubble of 8 million tonnes.
Health services are as stretched as they can be; hospitals are inadequately equipped and manned by fewer workers than they should be. Self-proclaimed Islamic State militants have attacked and killed over 530 healthcare workers and patients and have driven hundreds of others from their homes. This has resulted in acute human resources for health (HRH) crisis that is already demanding more health services in the country.
Just as importantly, those disruptions increase the potential for disease outbreaks—another scab to be scraped from the worsening humanitarian situation. Though the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on November 27, clashes continue with reports of shelling, bombing, and deaths in the south and eastern areas of Lebanon.
Lebanese authorities are in desperate need of international support to repair the damage done to its healthcare system and help thousands of people in need according to the WHO.
