The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Lebanon has reported a distressing number of 914 injuries and 195 fatalities due to the ongoing armed clashes, of which at least 42 civilian casualties. The majority of the 90,000 internally displaced people in Lebanon are desperately seeking refuge in temporary shelters, with approximately 300 cadasters currently hosting displaced populations.

Abdullah, a Relief International staff member working in South Lebanon, expresses deep concerns about the situation. “So many essential services such as health facilities and schools have been closed. People are living in fear, especially since the situation is spilling into other areas, like in the Bekaa.”

Thanks to the generous contributions of the Start Fund, our teams in Lebanon been working with the Public Health Emergency Operation Committee (PHEOC) and the MoPH Primary Healthcare Department to deliver life-saving services and bolster the healthcare infrastructure within the crisis-hit region.

We have been supporting 16 primary healthcare centers (PHCs), which has been particularly crucial in war torn villages like Rmeish and Marjayoun. The assistance includes essential medical supplies and equipment, significantly improving the PHC’s capacity to deliver comprehensive medical care, such as first aid, malnutrition screening, maternal care, routine vaccinations, and treatment of acute illnesses.

Sama, from Nabatieh, shares, “I was in need of medicine for my child but did not have the funds to pay for them, leaving me no choice but to borrow money from relatives. Now, with the support of Relief International delivering essential healthcare to my village, I can access the quality medication that I need.”

We have also expanded our support to include two mobile medical units (MMUs) by providing them with fuel cards. This ensures that healthcare services can reach displaced individuals who are in dire need.

In the past few months, we have supported over 35,000 patients at our healthcare centres while reaching over 7000 people via our mobile medical services.

To echo this, Houda, the Pharmacist Assistant at Hariri PHC in Saida, says, “The medical supplies have played a pivotal role during this critical time, with the medications being particularly vital as we were running low and experiencing a surge in demand from the growing number of displaced families. We have been able to address the most prevalent illnesses encountered at the PHC and have been able to prioritize children.”

The efforts of our teams in Lebanon, as well as funders START NETWORK, have not only addressed immediate healthcare needs but have offered hope amidst the devastation of conflict. As Lebanon continues to grapple with the challenges of political instability and economic crisis, the support of humanitarian agencies and the international community remains more crucial than ever.

We deeply appreciate the continued support of individuals and organizations that allow us to achieve long-term health and well-being in communities affected by crises.