Lebanon’s health care system, already struggling due to ongoing crises, is bracing for the potential of a larger conflict with Israel, according to Health Minister Firas Abiad. In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Abiad detailed the challenges faced by Lebanon’s health sector amid escalating tensions with Israel.
Since the outbreak of the current war in Gaza, Israeli forces and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group have engaged in mutual attacks. Tensions intensified after an Israeli strike in a Beirut suburb killed a prominent Hezbollah commander last month, prompting Hezbollah to vow retaliation.
Lebanon’s caretaker government is attempting to prepare for the worst while navigating a challenging political landscape, marked by a fractured parliament, a caretaker administration, and a lack of a president. The country’s health care system, already stretched thin, has had to adapt to these crises. Facilities have reduced costs by minimizing inventory, which has left them with limited reserves for emergencies. Currently, they have stockpiled critical supplies for up to four months.
Abiad expressed hope that these preparations will not be needed. “We hope all our efforts to prepare for this emergency will prove unnecessary,” he said. “The best outcome would be for these preparations to be in vain.”
The situation in Gaza has severely damaged its health system, and Lebanese authorities are concerned about the possibility of hospitals being targeted if the conflict expands. Abiad reported that nearly 20 paramedics and health care workers in southern Lebanon have been killed in recent Israeli strikes. These workers include those from medical groups affiliated with Hezbollah and other organizations that provide services in areas with limited state support.
Recent Israeli strikes have penetrated deeper into Lebanon, causing sonic booms from military jets to reverberate through Beirut, and turning much of the border area into rubble.
Lebanon’s health sector, once considered among the best in the region, has been severely impacted by multiple crises since 2019. These include a fiscal crisis exacerbated by decades of corruption and mismanagement, the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, and declining international aid for hosting over 1 million Syrian refugees. By 2021, hospitals were struggling to maintain basic operations and manage dwindling supplies.
Despite these challenges, Abiad remains hopeful about the resilience of Lebanon’s health system. He pointed out that during the Beirut port explosion, the system managed to handle more than 6,000 casualties in just 12 hours. “There is a determination within our health care system to provide the necessary care,” he said.
However, the country’s financial crisis has left government agencies reliant on humanitarian organizations for funding and supplies. Last week, the World Health Organization provided 32 tons of emergency medical aid. Yet, U.N. agencies and other groups have had to divert funds from other projects to support the approximately 100,000 people who have fled southern Lebanon since the Gaza conflict began.
Abiad highlighted challenges beyond the ministry’s control, such as securing fuel for electricity and petrol for ambulances, as well as providing for nearly 800,000 U.N.-registered Syrian refugees. He stressed the need for increased international support to address these issues.
