BEIRUT: The head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, arrived in Lebanon on Saturday on a “solidarity” visit for the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese affected by Israeli bombardment and needing international support.
Grandi expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. He described the situation as a “terrible crisis” on social media platform X, citing the plight of “hundreds of thousands of people left destitute or displaced by Israeli airstrikes.”
He called for more international support, stressing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict.
“I have come here in solidarity with those affected, to support the humanitarian effort and to ask for more international help,” Grandi said.
Imran Riza, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, also raised alarms about the deteriorating state of Lebanon’s healthcare system, which has been severely impacted by the Israeli bombardment. In a statement on X, Riza highlighted the “alarming increase in attacks against healthcare,” adding that health workers were bearing the brunt of the conflict.
“Health workers are paying the heaviest price with their lives. The health system is on the brink of collapsing,” Riza warned.
Four hospitals in southern Lebanon have already suspended operations due to the relentless airstrikes. Salah Ghandour Hospital, run by Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Committee, reported that nine of its medical staff were wounded in Israeli strikes after being warned by the Israeli military to evacuate the facility.
The Islamic Health Committee revealed that 11 of its personnel were killed in recent Israeli raids. According to Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad, since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in October, 97 rescue workers, including paramedics and firefighters, have been killed, with more than 40 losing their lives in just three days of Israeli airstrikes.
In a bid to support Lebanon’s collapsing healthcare system, international aid has started to arrive. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the first shipment of 30 tonnes of medical supplies, which landed at Beirut airport on Friday. Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed it had received additional aid from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations.
