Cut off from care as Israeli attacks intensify in Lebanon

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls for the protection of civilians and health care, and for an end to measures that force people from their homes and hospitals.

Since March 2, civilians have faced increasingly dire conditions, as a marked escalation of attacks by Israeli forces has forced more than 1 million people from their homes and disrupted their access to health care. According to the Ministry of Health, 1,039 people have been killed, 12 percent of whom are children, between March 2 and 23.

Airstrikes have repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure, such as bridges in the south of Lebanon, alongside ground attacks. These actions are effectively isolating large cities and villages south of the Litani River from the rest of the country, along with their remaining residents. 

"We are worried about the safety of the civilians who did not leave these areas, whether by choice or by lack of means," said Dr. Tejshri Shah, MSF general director, who is visiting Lebanon. "We call for the protection of civilians and medical structures at all times, allowing people to continue to access health care and other essential services." 

An impossible choice to remain at home or seek safety

Evacuation orders issued by Israel have collectively covered 14 percent of Lebanon’s land area, resulting in the displacement of 1 in 5 people in the country. Even in places outside the marked evacuation zones, including parts of Beirut and the southern parts of the country, people live under the immediate threat of recurrent strikes by air and drones. 

Despite forced displacement orders, many people have chosen to stay rather than abandon their homes and villages. Others have had no choice to stay due to socio-economic and medical vulnerabilities. This has made it extremely difficult for them to access medical care and for medical and humanitarian workers to reach them.

“Hospital staff in Nabatiyeh, who decided to continue working there, have no choice but to shelter inside the hospital, avoiding car travel, and in search for safety," said Dr. Luna Hammad, an MSF medical coordinator who visited Nabatiyeh Governmental Hospital, one of the hospitals receiving the most casualties in Lebanon today. 

“They have been enduring this for weeks with very little rest, carrying the weight of constant pressure and fear while hospitals continue to receive mass casualty events."

Several hospitals in southern Lebanon remain functional and are providing initial emergency care and referrals. MSF is supporting these facilities with medical supplies, fuel for electricity, and essential relief items such as blankets and hygiene kits.

Attacks on health facilities and workers

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 63 attacks on health care facilities have been reported as of March 23, with 40 health care workers killed and another 91 injured. In addition, more than five hospitals have been forced to evacuate, and more than 54 primary health care centers across Lebanon have had to close. This has further limited access to essential health services.

A displaced 56-year-old leukemia patient who visited one of MSF’s mobile clinics described the impact of disrupted care after hospitals were evacuated: “I fled with nothing and I have nowhere to go. I almost beat cancer. Now, I spend nights in a tent in a park, and I don’t know where I’ll find my next dose of medication or how I’ll continue my treatment."

In parts of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, North Lebanon, and Akkar, MSF teams are providing primary health care, referrals, and support to help people continue treatment, but sustained access to specialized and chronic care remains disrupted.

As bombardment and displacement continue, the space for people to survive and for health services to function is shrinking by the day. MSF calls for the protection of civilians and health care, and for an end to measures that force people from their homes indefinitely and cut them off from treatment.

MSF’s response in Lebanon

On March 2, MSF launched a nationwide emergency response in Lebanon to support affected communities through 15 mobile clinics and mobile mental health teams. We are also supporting hospitals in impacted areas by donating medical supplies, providing fuel, and distributing food parcels to staff. To support displaced people, our teams are providing medical and humanitarian assistance for collective shelters and temporary displacement sites.