(AP Photo)

Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
1 November 2024 | 10:00 CAT
2 min read

As Israeli bombardments and incursions continue across southern Lebanon, thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes, with many seeking shelter in the coastal city of Saida. In less than a month, more than 2,300 people have been killed in Lebanon, and over 11,100 injured, sparking a large-scale displacement crisis.

Mobile medical teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have been deployed throughout the city, providing displaced residents with essential healthcare services, medication, and mental health support.

Dr Mounia Amrani, Southern Africa Medical Team Leader for MSF, recently returned from Lebanon and shared with Radio Islam her firsthand experience of the urgent medical and mental health needs facing displaced families.

“When I arrived in Lebanon on October 1^st, just after Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah was killed, Beirut was under intense bombing—it was incredibly challenging,” said Dr Amrani.

She described the widespread, indiscriminate bombing of civilian infrastructure, impacting women and children. “I worked with displaced people in the Bekaa Valley, where north of Bekaa is targeted by the Israeli military. Many people were forced to flee their homes on short notice, leaving behind essentials, including medication and clothes,” she explained.

The crisis compounds Lebanon’s economic struggles, leaving most citizens below the poverty line and healthcare services strained. Many displaced Syrians and Palestinians, some experiencing displacement again, report severe psychological distress.

MSF’s mental health teams report that children are particularly vulnerable to trauma, with parents noticing behavioural issues linked to the violence. In response, MSF has launched a helpline for remote psychological support and provided nearly 5,000 group and individual mental health sessions.

“Hearing their stories and seeing them adapt to this very precarious reality where bombing is part of daily life was really shocking but also moving because the Lebanese are incredibly resilient,” she remarked.

MSF set up a medical clinic to provide essential healthcare, manage chronic conditions like diabetes, deliver mental health support, and distribute hygiene kits, water, and baby formula. They also support hospitals that treat war-wounded soldiers. “The need for healthcare has only grown, and so has the challenge of meeting these demands amidst the facility closures and limited resources,” she said.

Dr Amrani believes that with over 1.2 million people already displaced, the ongoing bombing will likely force even more to flee.

She noted key differences between Gaza and Lebanon: In Gaza, restrictions and closures make access extremely limited, while in Lebanon, open borders allow for the delivery of medication and humanitarian aid.

“We call for uninterrupted access to healthcare. Internationally, we need more healthcare workers, medical supplies and resources to address the urgent needs of the displaced and the wounded. There are children, women and elderly who had to move with nothing to seek shelter. They are sleeping on the ground, now with winter starting, it is getting very cold. The long-term impacts, especially on children, are a growing concern,” she said.

She emphasised that this crisis requires not only an immediate response but also a sustainable solution to safeguard the health and future of the people of Lebanon.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Dr. Mounia Amrani, Southern Africa Medical Team Leader for MSF (Doctors without Borders), here.