Caretaker Minister of Health Firass Abiad unveiled on Wednesday, October 18, a plan to prepare hospitals for a potential war scenario.
During an interview with Voice of Lebanon, Abiad discussed the precarious healthcare infrastructure in Lebanon. He emphasized that the government is drawing up a comprehensive plan to prepare hospitals for any potential outbreak of hostilities or mass displacement of Lebanese citizens from unsafe areas.
“We have available resources, but they are limited, and there is a plan to ready hospitals for potential war scenarios as well as for the displacement of Lebanese from unsafe areas,” he explained.
He condemned the inaction of the international community facing the massacres in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
“Today, we witness a shameful absence of international humanitarian law and ethics, and what we see on the ground contradicts the principles adopted by the international community,” he lamented.
Amid concerns over the possibility of escalating violence reaching Lebanon, the Health Ministry is establishing a health emergency operations room in its building. Abiad said that this proactive measure aims to ensure that Lebanon possess the necessary resources to effectively deal with any emergency situation.
The plan hinges on two critical elements: ensuring the readiness of hospitals in the event of a conflict and securing necessary medications for displaced individuals should the wave of displacement surge from the southern regions.
“There is ongoing coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Private Hospitals Syndicate,” he said. This collaboration is integral to creating a network of hospitals across all regions, thus guaranteeing the readiness and capacity of these healthcare facilities.
“The situation today is different from what it was in 2006 due to the emigration of most doctors and nurses and the limited resources,” Abiad noted.
He emphasized the urgency of obtaining funding to cover the costs of treating the wounded in the event of war. This critical issue is slated for discussion at an upcoming cabinet session schedule for 4 PM on Thursday.
