FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15, 2024

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MedGlobal Calls for Protection of Healthcare Workers and Facilities as Crisis Deepens in Gaza and Lebanon.

As violence intensifies in Gaza and Lebanon, MedGlobal is urgently calling for the protection of healthcare workers and medical facilities, which are under immense strain due to the escalating conflicts. Our teams on the ground report that frontline hospitals are overwhelmed by the increasing number of casualties, compounded by severe shortages of essential medical supplies. Thousands of civilians are being deprived of life-saving treatment, underscoring the immediate need to safeguard healthcare services and ensure access to critical medical care in these conflict-affected regions.

In Gaza, a recent Israeli airstrike at Al-Aqsa Hospital ignited fires that engulfed tents housing displaced families. “We are witnessing indescribable suffering. Families are fleeing one airstrike only to be trapped by another. Medical facilities are overwhelmed, and now even makeshift shelters are being wiped out.” said Rajaa Musleh, MedGlobal’s Gaza Country Director. 

Fadi Abed, MedGlobal’s communication officer in Gaza, who was 300 meters away from the site, reflected on the tragic reality: “Hospitals are supposed to be places of safety, but even Al Aqsa Hospital which is not in the red zone and considered a safe area has become a target of the violence. The realization that such a sanctuary can be bombed is devastating. What keeps me awake at night is knowing that no matter where we go, north or south, there is no real safety. A year after my displacement, it’s clear that nowhere in Gaza is truly safe. The constant fear, both mentally and physically, is exhausting. The harsh reality on the ground is far different from what’s portrayed on social media.”

In Lebanon, the healthcare crisis is rapidly worsening as the conflict escalates. According to the UN, there have been 39 attacks on healthcare facilities over the past year, resulting in the deaths of 94 healthcare workers while on duty. These attacks have placed immense strain on Lebanon’s healthcare system, leading to the closure of several facilities and overwhelming those that remain operational. “The healthcare system in Lebanon is on the verge of collapse. We are facing unprecedented challenges that require immediate international attention,” said Dr. Tania Banan, MedGlobal’s Lebanon Country Director.

As the violence escalates,MedGlobal is calling for urgent international action to ensure the protection of healthcare workers and facilities, and to facilitate the delivery of critical medical aid. MedGlobal stresses that attacks on healthcare infrastructure are a violation of international humanitarian law, and inaction will lead to devastating consequences for civilians already caught in the crossfire.

MedGlobal teams are on the ground, responding to the urgent medical needs in Gaza and Lebanon. However, the scale and severity of the violence exceed the limits of humanitarian action. Parties to the conflict must respect humanitarian law and protect civilians including  health workers and medical facilities.

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