Prisoners try to find a semblance of privacy in Roumieh. (Photo courtesy of Raeda Solh)
For several weeks, prisoners’ relatives have been denouncing on social media the outbreak of numerous skin diseases in Lebanon’s prisons, especially in Roumieh (the largest prison in the country).Denouncing the atrocious health conditions of the prison environment, these images show men with pimples from head to toe and others suffering from gaping and pustular wounds on the arms, legs or soles of the feet. Diseases are “due to the quality of the water that is dirty and polluted in Roumieh,” and “the lack of care,” according to some prisoners who spoke to L’Orient-Le Jour.“Skin diseases are part of everyday life here, especially scabies,” said Roni*, a man incarcerated in Roumieh. “We spent several days without water [in November]. When water is available, it is dirty and has a red color,” he said. “I can’t afford to buy bottled drinking...
For several weeks, prisoners’ relatives have been denouncing on social media the outbreak of numerous skin diseases in Lebanon’s prisons, especially in Roumieh (the largest prison in the country).Denouncing the atrocious health conditions of the prison environment, these images show men with pimples from head to toe and others suffering from gaping and pustular wounds on the arms, legs or soles of the feet. Diseases are “due to the quality of the water that is dirty and polluted in Roumieh,” and “the lack of care,” according to some prisoners who spoke to L’Orient-Le Jour.“Skin diseases are part of everyday life here, especially scabies,” said Roni*, a man incarcerated in Roumieh. “We spent several days without water [in November]. When water is available, it is dirty and has a red color,” he said. “I can’t...