Minister Abiad (left) alongside Minister Hamieh during his tour in the Bekaa. Photo DR.
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad and President of the Lebanese Order of Physicians Youssef Bakhache held a joint press conference on Friday to address the treatment plan for those injured in the remote attacks on Sept. 17 and 18.
On those two days, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members and their associates were simultaneously detonated, causing 39 deaths and 2,931 injuries, according to the latest count by the Ministry of Health. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have attributed the attack to Israel, which has been engaged in a war with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon for nearly a year. Most of the injured from the two attacks suffered injuries to their eyes and hands, with many cases requiring amputations or organ removals.
The health minister emphasized that the victims suffer from multiple injuries and require various types of care, ranging from surgical operations to physical therapy sessions and psychological follow-ups. He assured that all these treatments will be covered by the ministry, whether provided in hospitals or specialized centers.
He also noted that numerous countries and individuals, particularly Lebanese expatriates, have reached out to the ministry, expressing their willingness to send medical teams or travel to Lebanon to assist with the treatment of the injured. "While we appreciate this show of solidarity, we urge these parties to coordinate with the ministry and professional unions to ensure the quality of care and to enable local teams to continue long-term treatment," he said.
For his part, the President of the Order of Physicians stressed the healthcare sector's commitment "to ensuring that care is accessible to all."
Convocation of the Security Council
Earlier in the morning, Abiad conducted an extensive tour of the Bekaa region, where many of the pager and walkie-talkie explosions had taken place. His tour included visits to government hospitals in Baalbeck (northern Bekaa), Rayak and Chtaura (central Bekaa).
Throughout his tour, Abiad repeatedly referred to the remote explosions as a "war crime," particularly due to the indiscriminate nature of the attack. "During my visits yesterday and today (Thursday and Friday), I saw women and children among the victims of these attacks, and it is now clear to the whole world that the injured were civilians and families, especially as we count two children among the dead, a 10-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy," he said during his stop at Dar al-Amal hospital in Baalbeck.
On several occasions, he emphasized "the position of the Lebanese government, which was reflected in the convening of a U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday specifically dedicated to this matter, in order to hold the international community accountable for its responsibilities."
In all the establishments he visited, the Minister of Health also praised “the quality of care that our government hospitals have shown themselves capable of, and which was thought to be reserved for the big university hospitals”, believing that they had successfully applied the Ministry's emergency plans. He stressed, however, that the Ministry would take into account the specialized care needs of the injured, either by providing assistance to the facilities or by transferring them to other hospitals if necessary.
He paid tribute to the solidarity shown by the Lebanese people, believing it to be the best response to the Israeli attacks. The Minister noted “the high morale of the wounded and their families”.
Abiad was accompanied on his tour by the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh, and was received at various stages by MPs representing the Amal Movement and Hezbollah. MP Hussein Hajj Hassan praised “the great solidarity we have seen in the health sector, but also in political and community circles.” He nevertheless reaffirmed that “Lebanon will continue to support Gaza, and will not stop whatever the sacrifices.”
The Gaza “support front” in South Lebanon was triggered by Hezbollah on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after Hamas's “al-Aqsa deluge” operation against Israel.