Situation in Lebanon/Nahr El Bared refugee camp crisis – WHO bulletin

Lebanon Crisis: Health Cluster Bulletin No. 22

27 Jun 2007

The Lebanon Crisis Health Cluster Bulletin aims to give an overview of the health activities conducted by the health cluster partners in relation to the latest Lebanon conflict as well as the crisis in the Palestinian camps. It compiles health information received from the different organizations working in the most affected areas. The Health Cluster Bulletin will be issued every Wednesday.

Highlights

No outbreaks were reported through the Early Warning and Response system (EWARS). However, cases of suspected Pertussis and Meningitis were reported.

One New landmines/UXOs/cluster bombs' casualty was registered during this week as per the National Demining Office (NDO) and UNDP Mine action report.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is leading the Humanitarian and Relief interventions in response to the Nahr El-Bared Crisis.

UNRWA is finalizing the contingency return plan to Nahr El-Bared in consultation with its partners.

Tension continues in Naher El-Bared camp.

Situation Overview

Through the EWARS, 1 case of suspected Pertussis and 1 case of suspected Meningitis were reported from Nabatiyeh governmental hospital. The meningitis case was confirmed not to be a meningococcal.

According to the National Demining Office (NDO) and UNDP Mine action, one new casualty was registered during the current week, bringing, as of June 27, the total number of military and civilian casualty figures due to landmines/UXOs/cluster bombs to 240. Most of the civilians' injuries and deaths are due to agricultural activities followed by Reconnaissance of home.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

Fights continue in Nahr El-Bared camp-North of Lebanon.

According to UNRWA, reports from Beddawi camp regarding reportable communicable diseases indicate that no changes in the incidence of communicable diseases has occurred among IDRs and camp residents.

On June 25, 2007, UNRWA counted 31,374 IDRs. The main bulk is situated in the North (26,577), followed by the South (2,366), then the central Lebanese regions (2,052) and the Beqaa.

The contingency return plan to Nahr El-Bared is being finalized by UNRWA based on the review by the different partners involved in the response to the crisis.

Health Response to the Humanitarian Crisis

National and international Health Cluster partners are providing support in four core areas:

1. Assessment and monitoring 

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

UNRWA supported by WHO is preparing to conduct a Health Facilities' damage assessment as well as an assessment of the outcome of the casualties caused by the crisis.

2. Health coordination

The Health cluster meeting took place on Tuesday June 19 and was attended by 6 partners. The next Health Cluster meeting will take place on Tuesday July 3 at 3:00 pm, WHO office-Tyr.

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support sub-cluster coordination meeting took place on Monday June 25 and was attended by 5 partners. The next meeting will take place on July 23 at 12:00 pm, WHO office-Tyr.

The WATSAN sub-cluster meeting is taking place every other Thursday at 12:00 at the Water Authority in Saida.

The Health Cluster and Mental Health Matrices are regularly updated and shared with partners.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

The fifth Health Cluster meeting chaired by UNRWA took place on June 26 at UNRWA-Lebanon Field Office in Beirut. UN agencies, national and international Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in the North area attended the meeting.

The Resident Coordinator Representative (RCO) and UNRWA representative are attending, on behalf of all UN agencies, a daily meeting with the Prime Minister to coordinate and update on relief actions for the crisis in the Palestinian camps.

An updated Humanitarian intervention matrix of the various partners acting in response to the Naher El-Bared crisis is available on www.lebanon-support.org.

3. Filling health gaps

The Health Department at Imam Sadr Foundation in collaboration with UNICEF is organizing a summer camp for around 100 children between 6 and 11 years at Siddiqine Public School from July 9 until July 27. Psychosocial activities, children's rights, as well as health and environment awareness will be major themes animated by Imam Sadr Foundation team.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is constructing a 50 beds governmental hospital in Shaba'a, Hasbaya. UAE will also be providing the hospital with full equipments.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is working in reparations of damaged households due to the war, covering around 10,000 households in 35 villages in Tyr district, and 30 villages in Bint Jbeil and Marjeyoun districts.

INTERSOS in partnership with the Italian Cooperation is running a Mine Risk Education project in Nabatiyeh, Bint Jbeil, and Tyr districts.

International Medical Corps (IMC) is developing 25 child friendly schools in the districts of Akkar, Baalbeck, and South Lebanon.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

UNRWA Beddawi clinic continues providing medical services for Naher El-Bared IDRs. The total number of consultations so far for IDRs as well as residents at the Beddawi camp, and those reached with mobile clinics is 28,487. The team is providing medical care services and vaccinating children.

UNRWA is supplying Beddawi camp with an average of 3,500 cubic meters of potable water daily.

The Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society (KRCS) donated UNRWA 5376 tins of milk formula for children below the age of three years. Upon distribution, UNRWA medical staff is providing mothers with counseling promoting optimal feeding of infants and young children during crisis as per the MOPH, MOSA, WHO, UNICEF, WFP and UNFPA joint statement. In addition, proper and safe preparation of baby milk is explained to all mothers.

Naba'a is undertaking a number of psychosocial activities with children at the Beaddawi camp, including child rights activities, conflict resolution activities, and child-to-child activities, reaching respectively 45, 143, and 68 children. Naba'a also conducted a handicrafts workshop with 90 women above the age of 25.

International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC), through the Palestinian Red crescent society (PRCS) assisted the remaining population of Naher El-Bard with 84 boxes of Ready-to-Eat-Meals (MREs), 42 boxes of tinned tuna, 400 bags of bread, and 1,000 liters of bottled water during the period 17 to 26 of June.

The Lebanese Red Cross Society (LRCS) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams maintain their status of readiness. As of June 26, various missions transported 450 wounded, 59 corpses, 1,016 civilians from the camp's entrance, and 320 ill persons in medical emergency.

LRCS Youth Department is assisting an additional IDRs' center in Beddawi governmental school hosting 208 persons. The youth volunteers are distributing food and humanitarian aid as well as organizing educational programs for children in both centers; the Beddawi governmental school and the Loukman school.

4. Preserving and supporting local health systems

WHO conducted a training on “Water Sampling Techniques” on June 25 reaching 143 health inspectors and personnel from the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Water and Energy, the water establishments, Rafic Hariri Governmental Hospital and the municipality of Beirut.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

UNICEF in collaboration with PRCS continued the orientation sessions promoting breast-feeding practices at Beddawi camp reaching 700 IDRs childbearing age women as of June 27.

UNICEF is conducting a health education campaign among IDRs in the North by distributing posters on personal hygiene.

WHO supported UNRWA for training 5 medical and 6 paramedical staff in the North on First Aid. The sessions to be duplicated in other Palestinian camps are facilitated by the LRCS.

World Health Organization

http://www.leb.emro.who.int/

http://www.virtualhic.org 

All inputs are welcome on: health@leb.emro.who.int

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