While Israeli strikes intensify in southern Lebanon and move deeper into Lebanese territory, sometimes more than 60 km from the border, hospitals are considering all scenarios, with the means at hand in Lebanon. Since the start of this latent war between Hezbollah and Israel, the Lebanese Ministry of Health has put in place an emergency plan to train personnel for crisis situations. But the economic crisis that has been raging for almost five years has strained hospitals and their healthcare workers.
1 min
With our special correspondent in Saida, Sophie Guignon
The public hospital of Saïda, in the south of Lebanon, adjoins the entrance to the Palestinian camp of Aïn el-Helweh. Paramedics take patients to the emergency room. Doctor Ahmad Samadi, director of the establishment, prepares for all scenarios with the means at hand. “ We have five carts. We can treat 100 injured people at a time “, he explains.
Additional stocks and beds have also been planned to be able to be autonomous in the event of an extension of the conflict. “ If the roads were cut as during the 2006 war, this would prevent hospitals from being supplied with medical equipment, oxygen and fuel oil. At this point we have managed to stock up for a month », Explains the doctor.
But Lebanese hospitals are exhausted by five years of meteoric economic crisis. More than 40% of doctors have left the country according to the World Health Organization. “ What worries us most is a lack of nurses and doctors, that’s really what scares us. In this difficult economic situation, we really hope that there will not be more pressure on our shoulders. »
3,000 healthcare workers have been trained in crisis management by the Ministry of Health. Already on its knees, the country would not recover from a new conflict with Israel.