Humanitarian Strain: Lebanon's Health Crisis Deepens Amid Israeli Military Actions

The emergency ward of Sidon's Governmental Hospital is overwhelmed. Since October 2023, airstrikes near the southern border have pushed its capacity to the limit. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported a sharp escalation in hostilities, with dozens wounded and at least nine civilians dead last month.

The conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has severely strained Lebanon's healthcare system. Dr. Nadim Rahbani, a senior healthcare administrator at Sidon’s hospital, described the situation as "beyond a crisis." On 18 October, he stated, "We face shortages in antibiotics, IV fluids, and even basic wound dressings. Our supply chains were fragile before, but now they're practically severed."

Lebanon's healthcare infrastructure has long suffered from economic mismanagement and political instability. Since 2019, the Lebanese pound has lost over 90% of its value, making medical imports prohibitively expensive. A World Bank report from June 2022 characterized Lebanon’s economic collapse as one of the worst globally since the mid-19th century, a situation exacerbated by ongoing conflict.

On 14 October, Israel targeted airstrikes in Tyre, claiming Hezbollah militants were launching rockets into northern Israel. Health officials reported 38 injuries and nine fatalities, including two children. The human cost for non-combatants often goes unnoticed amid geopolitical discussions.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on 17 October that "health systems in conflict zones like southern Lebanon must be treated as neutral spaces under international humanitarian law, yet they are repeatedly collateral victims." Many clinics in border towns have closed as medical staff fled the violence.

Humanitarian organizations face significant challenges. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported difficulties in securing humanitarian corridors for medical aid. "Our teams face delayed approvals and constant security risks," said MSF’s Lebanon spokesperson, Ghada Hassan. "Meanwhile, the needs are growing exponentially."

The exodus of healthcare professionals compounds the crisis. In 2022, over 2,000 doctors and nurses left Lebanon, citing inadequate pay and unsafe conditions. Hospitals like Sidon’s now rely on overworked staff to manage patient care, a precarious situation during wartime.

Neighboring countries have provided limited assistance. On 20 October, Qatar’s Red Crescent Society airlifted 15 tonnes of medical supplies to Beirut, pledging further shipments based on diplomatic guarantees for safe passage. However, these efforts do little to meet the overwhelming need.

The repercussions extend beyond healthcare. The World Health Organization (WHO) identified Lebanon as a hotspot for disease outbreaks, noting a resurgence of cholera last documented in October 2022. Displacement camps near the southern border, housing over 50,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) as of October 2023, are at risk for waterborne diseases. Health monitors reported sporadic dysentery cases in informal settlements near Nabatieh.

Israeli airstrikes have disrupted agricultural production, forcing farmers to avoid fields near the border. Agriculture, which employs about 30% of Lebanon’s southern population, indirectly supports healthcare through local economies. Families are delaying or avoiding hospital visits due to economic pressure, according to Save the Children.

These developments necessitate a reevaluation of the international community’s response to health crises in conflict zones. Humanitarian actors, including the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, have been criticized for their slow response in establishing logistical hubs for aid distribution. "The systemic bottlenecks in how aid is delivered during active conflict should no longer be treated as inevitable," said Rania Jaber, a public health analyst in Beirut. "We need a paradigm shift that prioritises preemptive resource stockpiling in at-risk regions."

Lebanon’s crisis illustrates the broader health implications of prolonged military conflicts in politically fragile states. More than 75 years after the Geneva Conventions aimed to protect civilians in war, the distinction between combatants and non-combatants remains blurred. Medical neutrality, theoretically safeguarded under these conventions, is routinely violated. The ICRC’s call for accountability may resonate at the United Nations General Assembly later this year, but enforcement remains uncertain.

Residents of southern Lebanon rely on local resilience. "We’ve lived through war before," said Amal Farhat, a teacher from Tyre volunteering at a makeshift clinic. "But each time, it takes more from us—our homes, our health, our hope."

The coming weeks will determine if Lebanon’s health system can withstand the pressure or if it will collapse entirely. For now, Sidon’s hospital wards overflow, and the skies above southern Lebanon remain tense.