MSF Launches Emergency Response in Lebanon
Lebanon: Mass Displacement as Bombardment Intensifies
Since Monday, 2 March, tens of thousands of people in Lebanon have fled their homes following relentless Israeli airstrikes across multiple areas. In response, MSF has launched an emergency response in Lebanon, following the displacement of tens of thousands of people across the country, as a result of the intense Israeli airstrikes across several areas in Lebanon.
MSF teams are mobilising to respond to the urgent needs of newly displaced families, as well as maintaining continuity of care in our medical programmes across the country.
Wednesday March 4th
Today, we deployed a mobile clinic providing medical consultations and psychological first aid in Saida, southern Lebanon, where some shelters have exceeded capacity. We also started providing shelters in Beirut with clean water and conducting assessments in Beirut, Rashaya and other areas to scale up mobile clinics and supplies.
Across Lebanon, we maintain our activities in Beirut, Tripoli, Akkar and Arsal to ensure the continuity of care for the community. Displaced people are arriving with the most basic needs, relief items, water, and safe shelter, while “evacuation orders” of entire swathes of southern Lebanon are yet again forcing families to flee, often with nowhere safe to go.
"This war began 15 months ago, and until today, it hasn't stopped"
Listen to audio testimony from Sana Kawtharani, Community health educator in Nabatieh, South Lebanon below.
Tuesday, March 3rd
Listen below to a voice note from our field communications officer, Maryam Srour, recorded as she was fleeing her home in the Beirut suburbs amid the escalation of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.
"It was almost exactly as it was a year and three months ago: people fleeing under threat of fire, loud explosions, sirens, and people screaming. I woke up at 3 a.m. on Monday, March 2nd, to bone-chilling sounds that I hope no one ever grows accustomed to... While we were on the road, we received news that 53 towns and villages in southern Lebanon had been issued threats, or so-called evacuation orders, by Israeli forces. Fifty-three towns means thousands and thousands of families, including my own. We do not yet know how many people have been displaced, as the airstrikes are still happening and people continue to arrive in Beirut and other areas in droves. Once again, we found ourselves witnessing this endless loop of suffering for civilians—people just trying to go about their days."
