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).

· The situation in Lebanon remains uncertain and tense.

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.

           Preparations for the return to Naher El-Bared continue.

Situation Overview

Nahr El-Bared Crisis
· As of 28 October, Internally Displaced Refugees (IDRs) have vacated all government schools in Beddawi.
· Since 30 October 2007, around 1054 IDR families have returned to Naher El-Bared camp and were all assisted with medical services and food and non-food items.
· Teams from UNRWA and other organizations are visiting the “new” camp since the IDPs started the return to coordinate relief activities.

Health Response to the Humanitarian Crisis

National and international Health Cluster partners are providing support in four core areas:
1. Assessment and monitoring

  • WHO Public Health focal point in Tyr visited 9 health centers in Bent Jbeil district aiming to improve surveillance data reporting.
  • UNRC continues to collect data in terms of general information, damage assessment, ongoing projects, and gaps in interventions in the most affected villages of the southern cazas of Tyr, Nabatieh, Bent Jbeil, and Marjeyoun. The information gathered is being presented at the General Coordination Meetings on a bimonthly basis. So far, around 20 villages have been covered.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

  • According to UNRWA, the disease trend in Nahr el-Bared camp did not differ greatly from that observed in Beddawi camp. No serious diseases were detected among the returnees in the new camp and the health situation is under control. There are no reports on symptoms and signs related to sand fly disease among the returnees.

2. Health coordination

  • The next Health Cluster meeting for Southern Lebanon is scheduled for 20 November 2007at 15:00 p.m. at WHO office within the Ministry of Public Health premises-Tyr.
  • The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support sub-cluster meeting took place on 29 October 2007 and was attended by 4 partners. The next meeting is scheduled for 26 November 2007 at 12:00 p.m. at WHO office within the Ministry of Public health premises-Tyr.
  • The General Coordination Meeting took place on 2 November 2007 at the UN house-Tyr and was attended by the new UN Resident Coordinator, in addition to all UN agencies as well as partner Non Governmental Organizations. The next meeting will be held on 16 November 2007 at the same time and venue.
  • The Health Cluster and Mental Health Matrices are regularly updated and shared with partners.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

  • The eighteenth Health Cluster meeting is planned for 13 November 2007 at UNRWA Lebanon Field Office in Beirut.
  • UNRWA Area Health Coordinator (AHC) is conducting home visits to in Nahr El Bared camp to elderly patients, nursing mothers, and newborn babies.
  • WHO Project Officer and UNRWA Focal Point met with the Military medical corps and discussed the cooperation between the army and UNRWA in protecting the health of the residents of Nahr el-Bared Area, especially the disinfection of the “new camp” following the outbreak of sand fly fever that occurred in July and August 2007. A sero­survey is planned between the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and WHO targeting a sample of 384 Nahr El Bared residents aged 20 to 40 years with the purpose of finding out whether the phlebovirus is endemic in the area or was recently introduced.

3. Filling health gaps

  • The UNIFIL Indonesian Battalion inaugurated a vocational training center at the Khiam Rehabilitation Center for the Victims of Torture (KRC) where it will be starting, in cooperation with the KRC, computer courses as well as English language courses for the victims of detention and torture in addition to their families.

Nahr El-Bared Crisis

  • UNRWA set up a health clinic in Nahr El Bared‘s sector C. Thus, the IDRs medical files were moved from Beddawi to Nahr El Bared clinic.
  • UNRWA AHC advised the IDRs and the visitors of the Nahr El Bared “new camp” on the methods of prevention of insect bites and provided them with masks and insecticide repellent sprays.
  • UNRWA is providing psychological support for shocked returnees in addition to management of hypertensive crisis.
  • The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is providing ambulance services to the Nahr El Bared camp. PRCS also set up 2 mobile clinics in the Nahr El Bared sectors A and B.
  • Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) is providing health services for the disabled.
  • UNRWA is continuing the rodent control and disinfection campaign in Nahr El Bared “new camp” including insecticides spraying, removal and burning of dead animals, and removal of rubbish and damaged furniture by sanitation laborers. Rat baits have also been distributed.
  • UNRWA assistance to the IDRs is maintained through the provision of medical services at its clinics as well as contractual tertiary care hospitals. Shelters visits, maintenance, water pumping (2.500 cubic meters daily), and solid waste disposal (100 cubic meters daily) are carried out.
  • Health Care Society is maintaining the chronic drugs distribution until depletion of the stock.

4. Preserving and supporting local health systems

  • WHO conducted three additional field trainings on analytical methods using the portable testing laboratories as a follow up to the trainings on water analysis and water sampling techniques. The trainings targeted the public health inspectors at the MoPH Health Service in Zahleh, as well as the personnel at the two water establishments of Saida and Zahleh.

  • WHO conducted two additional awareness sessions on Brucellosis Prevention in coordination with the MoPH, the Ministry of Agriculture, the FAO, and the municipalities. The sessions were held in Bent Jbeil and Tyr, and were attended by 220 participants.

  • WHO conducted the last two trainings on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies targeting paramedical staff at the level of Primary Health Care centers. The trainings were conducted in Zahleh and West Bekaa, reaching 88 participants.

  • WHO is implementing the physicians training on medical screening in collaboration with the Order of Physicians and within its School Health joint project with the MoPH and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Three training were conducted so far in Beirut and the North, reaching around 500 physicians. Three more trainings are planned in the South, Bekaa, and West Bekaa.
    All inputs are welcome on: health@leb.emro.who.int

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Document symbol: Health Cluster Bulletin #34
Document Type: Arabic text, Bulletin
Document Sources: World Health Organization (WHO)
Subject: Health, Humanitarian relief, Refugee camps, Situation in Lebanon, Social issues
Publication Date: 07/11/2007