Hospitals in South Lebanon Close Amid Israeli Bombings and Supply Shortages

 

Three major hospitals in southern Lebanon were forced to shut down on Friday after Israeli airstrikes damaged two facilities, while a third ran out of essential supplies. This disruption has displaced medical staff and raised concerns over the stability of Lebanon's healthcare system during ongoing conflict.

Marjayoun Governmental Hospital and Salah Ghandour Hospital in Bint Jbeil, both situated near Lebanon’s eastern and western borders, announced their closure following Israeli bombings that killed seven healthcare workers and injured 14. Dr. Mones Kalakish, the director of Marjayoun Governmental Hospital, explained that paramedics had been unable to reach the hospital for days due to frequent targeting. He noted that there was no prior warning before the strikes: "The warning didn’t come over the telephone, it came via bombing," Kalakish said.

The situation worsened when Mays al-Jabal Governmental Hospital, located just 700 meters from the Israel-Lebanon border, also ceased operations on Friday. Dr. Halim Saad, the director of the hospital’s medical services, said, “We are out of medical supplies, diesel, and even water, which was being provided by UNIFIL before they became unable to move.”

Since Israel intensified airstrikes in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley on September 23, over 50 healthcare workers have lost their lives. This includes the recent death of nine paramedics in a medical center in central Beirut. Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firas Abiad, reported that a total of 97 paramedics have been killed since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalated last year, with the number continuing to rise.

The displacement of medical workers has significantly impacted the country's healthcare services, especially in the south, where Israeli airstrikes are most frequent. The fragile Lebanese healthcare system, already weakened by five years of economic crisis and nearly a year of war, is struggling to keep up as the number of daily casualties from the strikes regularly exceeds 100.

In Beirut, the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Lebanon’s largest public hospital, has also been affected. Israeli bombings in nearby Dahiyeh, a southern suburb, have caused some staff to flee, prompting the hospital to open a dormitory for essential personnel and arrange housing in safer areas. Dr. Jihad Saade, the hospital’s chief executive, expressed concerns that more staff may leave as bombings of medical centers become more frequent.

While the situation in southern Lebanon remains dire, with Israel ordering evacuations in about 70 villages, it is unclear how many residents remain in the area. Since the fighting began, more than 2,000 people have been killed and over 9,500 wounded, with most of the casualties occurring after September 23.

The conflict continues to strain Lebanon's already fragile healthcare system, leaving hospitals and medical workers struggling to cope with the relentless attacks and shortages of essential supplies.