Humanitarian needs in Lebanon: the post ceasefire landscape
Two months following the ceasefire agreement reached on 27th of November between Lebanon and Israel, the humanitarian needs in Lebanon persist. As of 9th January (OCHA), an estimated 868, 947 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have begun returning to heavily war-affected areas, notably in the South, Nabatieh, Baalbek-Hermel governorates, as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs. These returnees face massive destruction of their homes, civilian infrastructure, water distribution systems, and health facilities. Lebanon is currently facing the dire consequences of war, and the road to recovery on both the infrastructure and human levels is a long way ahead.
For returnees, access to basic services such as electricity, water, heating, food, relief items and healthcare poses a great challenge in the midst of destruction and the harsh winter weather. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) teams have been donating relief items such as mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits, potable water, and providing primary healthcare through mobile teams in Beirut, South, Nabatieh, Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel.
Those who found their homes destroyed or heavily damaged remain displaced, estimated at 115,439 people (OCHA). Many have had to seek shelter elsewhere within their communities, either renting houses when they have the means, or living in apartments belonging to family and friends.
Additionally, ongoing Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon has prevented many people from returning to their areas of origin in some villages. Despite the ceasefire agreement, there have been incidents of Israeli bombardments and land incursions, which resulted in the killing of at least 27 civilians according to Lebanese authorities.
Many hospitals and clinics in war-affected areas are either heavily damaged or completely destroyed, exacerbating an already dire situation.
The damage to these critical services creates a gap in medical care for those who need it. The needs in Lebanon shifted from providing healthcare in shelters and gathering points for displaced people during the war, to providing healthcare in areas heavily affected by bombardments.
In response, MSF continues to deploy 15 mobile medical teams all over Lebanon, four of them in Baalbek-Hermel governorate and six of them in the south of the country in South and Nabatieh governorates, while the other six respond to needs across Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, and other areas.
The mobile medical teams are focusing on areas and towns where newly arrived Syrians and Lebanese returnees are gathering in shelters or found refuge in host communities.
Our teams have also reopened our long-standing clinic in Burj El-Barajneh, located in the hard-hit southern suburb of Beirut, after having to close its doors for two months amid Israeli bombardment. We have also reopened our clinic in Hermel at full capacity after limiting services to distribution of medication for non-communicable diseases to ensure continuity of care during the war.
MSF has provided more than 4967 medical consultations in south Lebanon one of the region most affected by the war, 4460 in Baalbek-Hermel and 1326 in Beirut since the ceasefire came into effect.
