Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanon is facing one of its most severe humanitarian crises in decades, as devastating airstrikes coincide with direct threats targeting international “red lines,” including ambulances and major hospitals.
As rescue teams continue searching for missing persons under the rubble, signs of famine and severe food shortages are emerging in the country’s south.
First: The Toll of Violence
According to World Health Organization representative in Lebanon, Dr. Abdel Nasser Abu Bakr, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported heavy casualties from the April 8 airstrikes:
- Deaths: Around 300 fatalities.
- Injuries: 1,150 wounded receiving treatment under extreme conditions.
- Missing: Dozens remain under rubble, with unidentified remains expected to raise the toll.
Second: Targeting Healthcare
The report revealed a serious escalation, with warnings that ambulances could be targeted over alleged use by Hezbollah.
WHO Position
The World Health Organization stressed that international humanitarian law guarantees full protection for healthcare workers, facilities, and ambulances.
Dr. Abdel Nasser Abu Bakr emphasized that alleged misuse does not legally justify attacks, warning that losing these services would effectively be a death sentence for thousands.
Third: Hospitals at Risk
The Jnah area in Beirut faces a critical logistical and ethical dilemma, as evacuation orders expand to include major hospitals:
1- Rafik Hariri University Hospital.
2- Al-Zahraa Hospital.
- “Impossible evacuation”: These hospitals are currently treating 450 patients, including 50 in intensive care.
Dr. Abdel Nasser Abu Bakr stated clearly: “We decided not to evacuate,” as no alternative facilities exist, and transferring ICU patients under current conditions would be fatal.
Fourth: South Food Supply
Beyond Beirut, experts warn of collapsing food supply chains in southern Lebanon, where ongoing airstrikes block essential deliveries, trapping civilians between bombardment and hunger.
Lebanon’s healthcare sector remains the “last line of defense” against a full-scale humanitarian disaster.
Remaining in threatened hospitals is not a political choice, but an ethical necessity driven by the absence of any safe alternative, amid global silence testing the effectiveness of international humanitarian law.
