Arab League Announces Urgent Medical Support for Lebanon’s Health Sector

The Social Affairs Sector and the Health and Humanitarian Aid Department of the General Secretariat of the Arab League announced the transfer of urgently needed support, previously approved by the Council of Arab Health Ministers, to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health. The aid aims to address the immediate and critical needs for medical supplies, emergency services, and other healthcare resources to help Lebanon manage the impacts of recent Israeli aggression and to strengthen the health sector's capacity to treat the injured. In a statement today, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector at the Arab League, Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh emphasized that this support stems from an October 9 decision by the Council of Arab Health Ministers. The council called for urgent aid to assist the Lebanese people in confronting the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing aggression and to bolster the country's healthcare infrastructure. The Health and Humanitarian Aid Department promptly cir culated a comprehensive list of Lebanon's medical needs to member states, encouraging them to provide immediate relief and support under these challenging conditions. According to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health reports issued on October 24, there have been 55 recorded attacks on hospitals, including 36 instances of direct targeting, leading to the forced closure of eight hospitals and restricted operations in seven others. Additionally, ambulance services have faced 201 separate attacks, further complicating emergency response efforts. Ambassador Abu Ghazaleh highlighted the severe strain on Lebanon's health sector, which is grappling with numerous challenges due to the Brutal Israeli aggression. She urged Arab League member states to continue their support for Lebanon during this unprecedented crisis and called upon Arab financial institutions, funds, and specialized organizations to deliver further assistance to the Lebanese health sector. Ambassador Abu Ghazaleh underscored the importance of coordi nated Arab support in helping Lebanon's health infrastructure respond effectively to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and mitigate the devastating effects of the aggression. Source: Qatar News Agency