Project HOPE Launches Emergency Response in Lebanon
Washington, DC (24 September 2024) – As airstrikes continue to impact civilians in Lebanon, the global health and humanitarian organization Project HOPE is mobilizing supplies and deploying surge staff to supplement the team in Lebanon and the region in response to the health and humanitarian crisis, while calling for an end to the violence between Israel and Hezbollah. As of today, 558 people have been killed – including 50 children – and 1,800 are injured in Lebanon. Thousands more have been displaced.
Even before the latest escalation of violence, Lebanon’s health system was at its breaking point, facing severe shortages of staff, medicines, and equipment. Last week’s pager and radio explosion attacks further inundated the system with high rates of casualties, quickly followed by airstrikes that are further endangering civilians and crippling access to care. Project HOPE is preparing emergency and trauma medical supplies and supplies other humanitarian items to support those that have been displaced and are residing in schools and other public buildings; and coordinating with the Ministry of Public Health and local partners to rapidly respond.
“For the past few years, Lebanon has been suffering from a deeply under-resourced and understaffed health system, which is now being pushed to the limit with patients who are suffering from complex injuries due to explosions and airstrikes taking place in civilian areas,” said Project HOPE’s President and CEO, Rabih Torbay. “We call for an immediate end to the violence while working to support local health workers, hospitals, clinics and displaced families – all of whom are reeling from trauma that will require significant attention.”
Project HOPE has been addressing needs in Lebanon since the 2020 Beirut port explosion, delivering lifesaving medical supplies and mental health support. The organization has also been actively supporting communities in Gaza through primary health care, sexual and reproductive health care clinics, trauma and surgical surge staffing, polio vaccinations, nutrition assistance, and psychosocial support. Project HOPE is continuing to support civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel addressing the humanitarian needs of impacted communities, while remaining committed to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
Project HOPE has team members available for interviews. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact media@ProjectHOPE.org.
