Nahr El Bared refugee camp – WHO bulletin

Lebanon Crisis: Health Cluster Bulletin No. 29,
29 Aug 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 other Wednesday.

Highlights

No major outbreak was reported through the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS).

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.

Remaining civilians were evacuated from the Naher El-Bared camp where the Lebanese Army intensifies its operations to put an end to Fateh al-Islam.

Situation Overview

During the last two weeks, according to the EWARS, 7 cases of Brucellosis (three, two and one clinically and serologically confirmed cases respectively from Marjeyoun, Saida and Nabatiyeh Governmental Hospitals as well as one case to be confirmed from Nabatieh) were reported. Further, seven Typhoid fever cases were reported from Nabatiyeh (5 cases) and Tyre (2 cases to be confirmed). Two cases of Hepatitis A one from Taibeh and another from Shibaa are under investigation. Investigations about the last two weeks reported Typhoid fever cases revealed that water and food contamination as underlying causes. Awareness sessions on Brucellosis’ prevention targeting the general population as well as Mayors are being planned by WHO, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

Fights are still taking place in Naher El-Bared camp.

Fateh Islam is continuing to fire Katyusha rockets from Nahr El-Bared camp into adjacent villages in North Lebanon.

The situation in Beddawi camp seems to be calm with sporadic increase in tension marked by a demonstration in front of the UNRWA camp office on August 20 as well as a shooting incident on the 19th.

On August 24, remaining civilians’ women and children were evacuated from the camp. Several institutions including the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) Emergency Medical Services Teams and the Lebanese Army participated in the evacuation and first aid and transportation services.

UNDP as well as other partners reflected their concerns regarding the needs for IDRs during the approaching winter season.

Health Response to the Humanitarian Crisis

National and international Health Cluster partners are providing support in four core areas:
1.  Assessment and monitoring
United Nations Resident Coordinator (U NRC) is conducting a one-year after follow up on the various UN and Non Governmental organizations projects carried out in both the South and Nabatieh governorates. The follow up is covering the five most damaged villages in every district. The report identifying the gaps will be disseminated during the general coordination meeting in Tyre.

WHO Public Health focal point continued his visits to the health facilities in the South. During the last two weeks, visits were undertaken to 10 health centers in Bent Jbeil and Tebnin in addition to Meis Al Jabal hospital. The visits aim to improve surveillance data reporting.

The International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) Beirut health team is enlarging its data base in relation to the dispensaries and private hospitals all over Lebanon. The District doctors are providing the information.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

According to UNRWA, reports from Beddawi and Mina clinics as well as the mobile clinic showed no changes in the incidence of communicable diseases.

UNRWA Health Coordinator in the North continues assessment visits to follow up on the health conditions of IDRs in the various displacement centers – North Lebanon.

2. Health coordination

The Health Cluster meeting took place on Tuesday August 21. All partners are requested to provide updated information for the health cluster matrix. The next meeting will take place on September 18 at 14:00 p.m. at WHO office within the Ministry of Public Health premises-Tyr.

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support sub-cluster coordination meeting took place on August 27 gathering five partners. New psychosocial activities are planned to be launched in September. The next meeting will take place on September 24 at 12:00 pm at the WHO office in Tyr.

The General Coordination Meetings continue on bi-monthly basis. The next meeting will take place on September 7 at 11:30 a.m. at the UN house-Tyre.

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

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

The Twelfth Health Cluster meeting chaired by UNRWA took place on August 28 at 11:00 at UNRWA-Lebanon Field Office in Beirut and was attended by six partners in addition to UNRWA. The meeting timing is subject to the changes in the Naher El-Bared situation.

A health sub-cluster meeting took place in the North on August 20 at Beit Atfal As-Somoud offices in Beddawi Camp. The meeting attended by UNRWA and six NGOs focused among others on the importance of producing accurate reports reflecting the various aspects of the situation of IDRs including the psychosocial aspects.

A matrix on the Humanitarian interventions of the various partners acting in response to the Nahr El-Bared crisis is available on www.lebanon-support.org.

3. Filling health gaps

Imam Sadr Foundation in collaboration with the Sovereign Order of Malta continued providing medical services through their specialized medical unit. During the last three weeks, about 100 beneficiaries in Maroun Ras and Aynata/Tayri – Bent Jbeil district received General Medicine, Cardiology and Endocrinology with HB1AC screening services, while about 75 beneficiaries in Brayqi' and Qosaybeh/Adchite – Nabatiyeh district received General Medicine and Dermatology services.

Imam Sadr Foundation Health Summer Camp in Ayta Chaab supported by UNICEF is terminated. An average of 200 children participated in the camp. The closing ceremony will take place on August 30 and will include among other activities an art exhibition of children’s works.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

UNRWA response to the Nahr El-Bared crisis continues through the provision of medical services throughout its clinic at Beddawi camp as well as contracted tertiary care hospitals and health institutions.

UNRWA and its partners reported the ending of the insect and rodent control campaigns undertaken in the displacement centers as well as other locations in Beddawi camp.

UNRWA and the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) continue providing adequate quantities of water to Beddawi camp. An average of 2,500 cubic meters of potable water is being pumped and an average of 100 cubic metres of refuse is being disposed of on a daily basis.

The Lebanese Red Cross Society (LRCS) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams maintain their status of readiness. The teams performed as of August 25 various missions transporting 1,033 wounded, 100 corpses, 1,022 civilians from the camp’s entrance, 1,427 ill persons including those in medical emergency.

LRC volunteers at the Youth Department continue the management of the refugee center in Loukman School in Beddawi camp hosting 386 IDRs. Distribution of food and humanitarian aids as well as provision of educational programs for children and information for families is part of the humanitarian services provided.

Beit Atfal As-Somoud dental units in Beddawi camp are providing dental care for children. In addition, psychiatric services are provided as well as medications the latter in coordination with the Health Care Society. Further, special speech rehabilitation is being run receiving children with hearing defects and speech difficulties.

4. Preserving and supporting local health systems

International Medical Corps (IMC) and Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) supported by UNICEF conducted a series of the 16 hours First Aid Management trainings in Bent Jbeil, Tyre, Akkar and Bekaa. The majority of the 138 schoolteachers trained are women.

UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Public Health in intensifying the coverage of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). The first micro planning workshop in Hermel took place gathering 24 mayors as well as Non Governmental Organizations and the Ministry of Social Affairs. Four other districts namely Bent Jbeil, Baalbeck, Akkar and Sir El Dinnieh are involved in the upgrading.

ICRC and LRC youth department conducted a two-days briefing on “Emergency Preparedness and Response” targeting the LRC youth volunteers. Twenty volunteers from the LRC centers in Bekaa attended the briefing. Additional briefings are planned to cover other Lebanese regions.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

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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