GENEVA, Switzerland — The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, gave a serious warning on Tuesday, saying that Lebanon’s health system is struggling to keep up after Israel increased airstrikes and ground raids in the country.
He explained that more and more people are dying in Lebanon, and hospitals are becoming overwhelmed with injured patients. “The health system has been weakened by many crises and is struggling to handle the huge number of people needing help,” Tedros shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. In response, WHO is increasing its support to help the situation.
Israel, which had been focused on its conflict in Gaza after the October 7 attacks by Hamas, turned its attention last month to securing its northern border with Lebanon. This shift in focus has led to more than 1,000 deaths, with Israeli airstrikes hitting Beirut and its southern areas.
Tedros also mentioned that he met with ambassadors from the Arab League in Geneva to talk about the crisis. They agreed that patients, health workers, and civilians, including refugees, must be protected and given the medical care they need.
WHO is working closely with Lebanon’s health ministry to ensure hospitals have enough medical supplies and that health workers are prepared to deal with mass emergencies. They are also focused on continuing basic health services, especially for those most in need. However, Tedros emphasized that more help is still needed.
In his message, Tedros stressed that the best solution is peace. “The violence must end to prevent more loss and suffering. Any further escalation of the conflict will have catastrophic consequences for the region,” he warned, adding, “The best medicine is peace.”
