Lebanon Crisis, World Health Organization Update

The conflict across the border between Lebanon and Israel continues, threatening people's health in the region. The affected population, including 680 000 in Lebanon and 220 000 in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, and the Gulf area, needs urgent support to access safe drinking water, health care, vaccines and life-saving medications. The large-scale destruction of the Lebanon's infrastructure is affecting the health system's capacity to deliver care.


Lebanon is a country in social and epidemiological transition, and in normal times the burden of disease is equally divided between communicable and non-communicable diseases. The current situation implies (a) increase in risk for communicable diseases because of the concentration of displaced people and lack of access to clean water and sanitation and (b) great risk for those already living with chronic diseases because of the loss of life-preserving medications and support services. This applies also to pregnant women about to deliver and others in need of assistance for similarly vital events.


WHO and health partners are supporting the national authorities in meeting the urgent needs of the rapidly increasing number of displaced people, including access to safe drinking water, health care, vaccines and life saving medications. Collaboration with other health agencies such as UNICEF, UNFPA, the Lebanese Red Cross and others is instituted through the Health Cluster mechanism, and the UN Flash Appeal launched on 24 July.


Eighteen health projects are listed under the Flash Appeal, for a total requirement of US$ 32 428 200. Pledges thus far include US$ 1 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), US$ 381 000 from Australia, 200 000 Euros from Italy, 100 000 Euros from Ireland, US$ 600 000 from Sweden, US$ 660 000 from Canada, 1 000 000 Euros from Norway and 500 000 Euros from ECHO.


Assessment, monitoring and coordination go hand-in-hand and have their own costs, especially in such high risk environments (US$ 3 million). The bulk of costs goes to filling the gaps (e.g. salaries, supplies, equipment) that the conflict has created in the health system (US$ 28 million), and preserving and supporting what is left of the local health system, critical for an easy transition to recovery (US$ 1 million).


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