Lebanon: Health system overwhelmed following a ‘horrific’ day of Israeli strikes

This article is published in association with United Nations.

The scale and speed of destruction from the wave of airstrikes in Lebanon which began just hours after the US-Iran ceasefire announcement, has left the country’s already strained health system struggling to cope, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO Representative in Lebanon Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar spoke to UN News from Beirut and said that Wednesday marked “one of the deadliest single days in the current escalation of violence” in the country. 

In just minutes, multiple strikes hit densely populated areas, including the capital, Beirut, in the middle of the working day. 

“In just 10 minutes, yesterday afternoon, explosions struck multiple locations, including densely populated civilian areas in the capital, Beirut,” he said, describing scenes of panic as civilians went about their daily lives without warning.

The attacks resulted in a large number of civilian casualties. “The interim assessment is reporting…over 200 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. Among them, women and children,” Dr. Abubakar said, adding that first responders and healthcare workers were also among the dead and injured, with many victims still trapped beneath the rubble.

Reflecting on the scale of the attack, he described it as “horrific, very sad, is alarming”, recounting how he witnessed multiple strikes from his office in Beirut. “I could see in my window, actually, 10 different strikes in front of me, and buildings collapsing.”

Hospitals pushed to the brink

Hospitals across the country have been pushed to the brink. 

Emergency departments and trauma services are overwhelmed by the scale of injuries, while shortages of critical supplies are compounding the crisis. “Hospitals actually have issued an urgent call” to plug the gaps, he said, noting that mass casualty protocols have been activated nationwide.

Unidentified bodies

“Hospitals continue to receive reports of the unidentified bodies, and body parts that have been recovered”, Dr Abubakar said, highlighting the devastation scale of the attack. 

The pressure on the health system is further intensified by ongoing attacks on healthcare. Since the escalation began, dozens of healthcare workers have been killed and many more injured. 

“Many of these healthcare workers were displaced themselves because they’ve been affected by the conflict and many of the healthcare attacks that happened in the last 40 days, killed over 50 healthcare workers, and have wounded over 150 healthcare workers”, he added. 

Limited access

Such attacks not only cost lives but also limit access to care for those in need. “When you kill healthcare workers and first responders…the end point is that you don’t have first responders and ambulances,” Dr Abubakar warned, highlighting the wider impact on already vulnerable communities.

WHO and its partners are working closely with Lebanon’s Ministry of Health to provide support, including medical supplies, technical assistance and funding. However, resources are rapidly being depleted. 

“We have already consumed most of the available stocks in the last 40 days, but more so, what happened in the last 24 hours,” he said.

© OCHA/ADJI-Alia Mikati

Partners with support from the OCHA-managed Lebanon Humanitarian Fund provide displaced people with mobility aids in shelters in North Lebanon.

Appeal for international support

Efforts to replenish supplies are also being hampered by logistical challenges, including limited transport options into the country. “We really need to source out different options, how we can transport supplies,” he added.

Despite the challenges, the health system continues to function under immense strain. “We are trying our best to serve the people, and to save lives. But also, that humanitarian assistance will depend on the available resources that the humanitarian partners are receiving,” Dr Abubakar said.

With needs rising sharply, WHO has issued an urgent appeal for international support. 

“We really need urgent resources and funds for us to continue, assisting those people who are in need,” he said, warning that without additional funding, life-saving operations could be at risk.