Khalil Warns: Number of Syrians Seeking Treatment in Lebanon Exceeds Country's Capacity
Caretaker Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil warned on Monday that the number of wounded Syrians looking for treatment in Lebanese hospitals exceeds the country's potential to care for the injured.
"The number of wounded coming from (the Syrian border town of) al-Qusayr is expected to increase furthermore,” Khalil noted in phone calls with President Michel Suleiman, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabih Berri.
He elaborated: “It is not a matter of expenses only, but we have a shortage in the number of hospital beds, especially in Intensive Care Units.”
"This is a big challenge to the sector of health in Lebanon as it risks being unable to accommodate the increasing number of wounded Syrians, and might affect Lebanese citizens' rights to access hospital services.”
"Since the arrival of the first group of refugees, the 170 primary healthcare centers spread around the country that work under the supervision of the ministry, as well as several health programs have been working on providing the needed medical care and medications to people suffering from chronic diseases and epidemics,” Khalil revealed.
"The ministry, at its own expense, also followed-up on refugees that need dialysis on a regular basis, noting that their number has exceeded 600, which is alone a burden on both private and public hospitals.”
The caretaker minister urged seeking the help of “nations that expressed in the media their keenness to take care of the Syrian people.”
"We are in a dangerous and painful situation and we call for dealing with it before catastrophic consequences take place in Lebanon.”
The Lebanese Red Cross, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Res Cross, has transferred to Lebanon in the past three days 120 people that were wounded in Qusayr's battles.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has voiced concern for hundreds of wounded it says are still trapped in the Qusayr region, where the United Nations has demanded "immediate" humanitarian access.
over 11 years
Unfortunately F.T, all terrorists on both sides (yes HEZB included) get free treatment. It is the God fearing, poor and peaceful citizen that gets the shaft.
over 11 years
Lebanese are unable to get treatment at hospitals because
1- Your ally, Nabih Berry is stealing Social Security funds in plain site through his network of false claims and scams.
2-70% of Hezbollah partisans do not pay taxes or bills
over 11 years
Let Hezbollah pay their dues in taxes before claiming free hospital treatment ...
Why should the Lebanese state cover medical expenses of Hezbollah's ILLEGAL WAR operation OUTSIDE OF LEBANON anyway ?
over 11 years
Liberty stfu. Are you going to pay for the economic loss the Lebanese government is taking and the potential non treatment of its own citizens? And for the record the Lebanese government didn't send any criminal thugs anywhere.. U talk like an Israeli.
over 11 years
Typical Aouni:) Is your demented petite general been paying for all the economic losses caused by the 2006 war, the "occupation" of down-town for 18 months, May 7 damages, the lack of tourism, and the not yet accounted for tremendous losses to be incurred? I think you should STFU!
over 11 years
this is a typical humanitarian case caused by Lebanese.
furthermore, the criminals of hizbushaitan are blocking the roads ahead of red cross ambulances.
totally barbaric behavior from hizbushaitan and their followers.
sorry: the barbars are more civilized than this.
over 11 years
Shouldnt the syrians be the ones complaining about the lebanese who murder or injure them? Its funny how lebanese complain about not being able to admit syrians to hospitals while lebanese are the reason they need medical care in the first place. Stop the shia takfiris hezballah and amal from massacring syrians then you can complain about syrians seeking medical help.
over 11 years
maybe Hizbullah should stop going to Syria and shooting Syrians then.
over 11 years
Shia Wahabis included in your wish.
over 11 years
Copy/paste king
You send your criminal thugs to kill them and now you refuse them treatment?