Communiqué de presse South Lebanon: findings from the field
Following the cease-fire, Médecins du Monde is continuing the activities it began during the conflict. An assessment of health needs has been conducted in the south of the country, which is currently facing a massive return of displaced people. MdM has also begun medical activities there.
The intensity of the Israeli strikes, in particular those targeting transport routes, have led to almost impossible access to the villages in south Lebanon for aid and humanitarian organisations for over a month. Those who did not leave the villages (approximately 20% of the population) have been cut off from the rest of the world throughout the entire conflict and have been confined to shelters.
The zones inhabited by Shiites were most heavily hit by artillery and attacks by the Israeli air force. Today many villages are partially destroyed. In some of them (Dibbine, Ma’rakah, Taaid), half of the houses are uninhabitable and the infrastructures entirely destroyed. There is no access to running water, electricity or telephones. The sources that fed the water supply have been damaged, the underground drains are destroyed and the electricity supply has been cut off.
Today, the displaced people are returning to South Lebanon on a massive scale and the poorest of them, having nowhere else to go, return to the villages. Women and children are living in difficult conditions with a lack of essential infrastructures (schools, health centres, water, electricity and trade)
In addition to the important material losses suffered by these populations, all the economic activity has been affected in the mid-term. Agriculture and cattle are essential to life for the population of the South; many fields were burnt or have been mined. Most of the tobacco crop, which normally has to be collected in July and August, has rotted. The cattle were killed by the bombing or have died of thirst during the conflict. The population, already in a precarious economic situation before the conflict, are even more vulnerable today.
The remains of cluster bombs currently represent the most significant risk in these areas. They can be found everywhere, on and by the sides of the roads, in the fields, gardens and, in some cases, in houses.
Consequences for medical care
In 90% of the villages visited by MdM’s teams, the health structures are not operational. With regard to the hospitals in these areas: the hospital of Marjayoun is still closed, while those in Tebnine and in Bent Jbeil remained open during the conflict, but have been badly damaged. As a result, they are not currently in a position to deal with any in-patients. They also lack medical supplies. Some of the Lebanese medical personnel have not yet returned to work and the health structures are not yet functional.
MdM’s medical activities in the South
Whilst the majority of the health centres have only suffered minor damage, rebuilding work and new supplies of medical equipment will be necessary before they can function again. Following the results of the needs assessment carried out in the south of the country, MdM has been supporting the re-opening of the dispensary of the local NGO Amel, in Khiam since 18 August. This remains the only dispensary open in the area, and is one which Amel is also working to rebuild.
In addition, since 21 August, two MdM mobile units have been distributing medical supplies to the health staff, doctors and nurses. The units have been carrying out consultations in 10 villages between Khiam and Tebnine, while waiting for the re-opening of the dispensaries.
Simultaneously, MdM’s teams continue their assessment work on needs that are not covered in the remote villages in the south of the country so that consultations can be organised if needed.
Contact Presse :
Florence Priolet - 00 33 (0)1 44 92 14 31
http://www2.medecinsdumonde.org/contacter/presse