In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Tedros highlighted the mounting death toll and the overwhelming number of injured patients in hospitals across Lebanon.

“The death toll in Lebanon is rising, and hospitals are overwhelmed with the influx of injured patients,” he said, stressing that the country's healthcare infrastructure, already weakened by multiple crises, is ill-equipped to handle the growing needs. The WHO has ramped up its response in an attempt to provide relief.

Israel’s shift in focus, following its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, has seen increased military action along its northern border with Lebanon. This escalation has resulted in over 1,000 fatalities within a week, including casualties from Israeli strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs.

Tedros revealed that he had met with Arab League ambassadors in Geneva to address the situation, emphasizing that protecting civilians, health workers, and patients, including refugees, is paramount. He underscored WHO's collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Health to ensure hospitals are stocked with medical supplies, that healthcare workers are trained for mass casualty events, and that essential health services remain available, particularly for the vulnerable.

Despite these efforts, Tedros stressed that more aid is urgently needed and called for peace as the ultimate solution. “What the people of Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, and throughout the Middle East need is peace,” he said, warning that further escalation of violence could have catastrophic regional consequences. "The best medicine is peace," he concluded. (ILKHA)

The death toll in #Lebanon is rising, and hospitals are overwhelmed with the influx of injured patients. The health system has been weakened by successive crises and is struggling to cope with the immense needs.

I met with Arab League Ambassadors in Geneva to discuss the health… pic.twitter.com/EAUZNlptGC

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October 2, 2024