Lebanon

COUNTRY BACKGROUND

Located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon was once a leading trading post and banking hub in the Middle East, as well as the home to premier health care centers. Fifteen years of civil war have caused enormous problems, however, and the country has struggled to rebuild and maintain its physical, financial and social infrastructure. Economic growth has stagnated due to expanding debt and is hindered by weak governance in public institutions.

The burden of disease for Lebanon’s population of 4.3 million is in transition as chronic ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, depression and cancer emerge along side acute infections, according to the World Health Organization. The private sector provides more than 90% of health services with an emphasis on sophisticated and specialized services. This has led to a relatively weak primary care system and disjointed referral services. In recent years, non-governmental organizations have played an instrumental role in providing and strengthening primary care in Lebanon.

GLOBAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Reaching Thousands in Lebanon
Since 1982 AmeriCares has delivered relief for people in Lebanon in response to disputes and refugee crises associated with the Middle East conflict. In 2000, we initiated a regular schedule of shipments of medicines and medical supplies to our partner, the American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA). We now average six 40-foot containers of medical commodity assistance per year, carrying a total value of $47 million since 2000. Through in-country institutions, this assistance helps provide medical care for a population of roughly 500,000 people.

ANERA, which has a program office in Beirut, distributes our assistance to the YMCA, Lebanon’s largest charity organization (for whom AmeriCares is its largest donor of in-kind assistance). The YMCA’s medical programs focus on chronic disease management. In partnership with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the YMCA distributes AmeriCares chronic medicines to more than 150,000 patients through a network of 459 non-governmental clinics around the country. From time to time, the YMCA also partners with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health to support public sector institutions.

ANERA also distributes medicines and supplies donated by AmeriCares to Dar el Fatwa and Healthcare Society (HCS), the largest Muslim charity in Lebanon. Through Dar el Fatwa, our assistance reaches Dar al Ajaza Hospital in Beirut as well as Dar El Fatwa’s network of clinics; HCS provides health services in Palestinian refugee camps.

For more information about AmeriCares partnership with ANERA, see the Gaza & West Bank page.

EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM

Emergency Response: 2006
In the summer of 2006, renewed violence in the Middle East led to the displacement of nearly one million Lebanese and placed massive strain on the health care system, which had been largely cut off from receiving medical supplies. AmeriCares responded with an airlift to Beirut that carried essential medicines and relief supplies to abate the humanitarian situation in Lebanon. In addition, AmeriCares provided ANERA with a cash grant for the purchase of infant and child care kits to help the youngest victims of this crisis. These donations addressed the health needs of many individuals returning to southern Lebanon.