Caretaker minister of health Firas Abiad during a press conference (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's caretaker Minister of Public Health condemned "Israeli aggression against medical crews" in southern Lebanon during a meeting with the Lebanese prime minister and the World Health Organization's regional director in Beirut on Tuesday, the National News Agency (NNA) reports.
World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Health Minister Firas Abiad gathered for the first time since Balkhy's appointment to the role in February. During the meeting, Abiad discussed the situation in southern Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have killed 15 medical workers since the war between Hezbollah and Israel started on Oct. 8.
"We strongly condemn this aggression," Abiad said, and "call on the United Nations organizations to carry out their duties."
He added that Dr. Balkhy had told Lebanese officials that Israel's targeting of medical facilities and personnel was "contrary to all international norms and laws."
The health minister told NNA that the main purpose of Dr. Balkhy's visit was to inspect the healthcare system in Lebanon, in light of the various challenges it faces, including the added pressure of needing to provide for displaced refugees from Syria and from southern Lebanon.
"It was an opportunity for Dr. Balkhy to examine the situation in Lebanon, especially with the close cooperation between the Ministry of Health and WHO so that we can meet the needs of Lebanese citizens and displaced people."
Abiad said WHO's regional director praised the Health Ministry for its efforts and its collaborative attitude toward strengthening the Lebanese healthcare system in cooperation with WHO's support — and that she presented WHO's new plan for the region, which focuses on the issue of ensuring easy access to medicines, medical equipment, and human resources, "as well as the issue of drugs."
Dr. Hanan Balkhy is a Saudi physician who has served as Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance at WHO headquarters since 2019 and entered the role of Regional Director on Feb. 1 2024 — the first woman to hold the position — for a term of five years. She specializes in public health challenges and has served in various leading roles in public health in the region.