Israeli forces continue to kill and maim people in Lebanon
Country: Lebanon
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières
MSF calls on Israeli authorities to guarantee the protection of civilians, medical and rescue personnel, and health facilities.
The security situation in southern Lebanon is rapidly deteriorating amid ongoing Israeli military operations, including strikes and large-scale forced displacement orders. The escalation is severely impacting people and their access to health care. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams working in hospitals continue to see wounded civilians.
Jeremy Ristord, MSF head of mission in Lebanon, said today:
“Despite the so-called ceasefire, we are currently witnessing an alarming situation in southern Lebanon. There is ongoing Israeli military escalation expanding northwards, and large-scale forced displacement orders are impacting most of the south of the country.
“In recent days, our teams supporting local hospitals in Tyre (Sour) and Nabatiyeh have received successive waves of casualties amid a rapidly deteriorating security context. Hundreds of strikes have been reported in the areas where we work. Nine health workers have been killed, 48 injured, and seven ambulances have been hit in just 10 days, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
If medical teams, including MSF staff, are forced to suspend activities, communities will be left without lifesaving care at a time when needs are critical.
“In the hospitals we support, civilians continue to arrive with severe injuries — including skull fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and shrapnel from drone explosions lodged in their lungs and liver. In some cases, entire families have been injured or killed.
“This worsening situation risks having further consequences for people’s access to health care. If medical teams, including MSF staff, are forced to suspend activities, communities will be left without lifesaving care at a time when needs are critical.
“MSF reiterates its calls on Israeli authorities to guarantee the protection of civilians, medical and rescue personnel, and health facilities.” ...