…As displacement grows, health systems crumble, and the first cholera case since 2023 sparks concerns of a renewed outbreak.
By Bunmi Yekini
Lebanon’s already fragile health system faces new threats as the Ministry of Public Health confirmed its first cholera case in over a year on October 16th, reigniting fears of an outbreak amid ongoing conflict. The patient, residing in the Akkar governorate, signals a potential resurgence of the disease, last seen in the country between October 2022 and June 2023, when Lebanon grappled with its first cholera outbreak in over three decades.
Authorities are racing to contain the potential spread, conducting contact tracing, gathering samples, and investigating possible water contamination. Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO Representative in Lebanon, warned, “WHO has been sounding the alarm on the risk of emerging infectious diseases like cholera resurfacing in Lebanon as a result of poor water and sanitation conditions and the impact of the current conflict.” WHO’s immediate priority, Abubakar stressed, is to “enhance surveillance and water sanitation conditions to interrupt transmission and prevent further spread.”
This latest health crisis compounds an already catastrophic situation. As conflict rages, over 1.2 million people have been displaced, many taking refuge in overcrowded shelters unequipped for long-term habitation. Humanitarian organizations, including WHO, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP), are working around the clock to address the needs of these displaced families, from access to clean water and sanitation kits to medical supplies and psychosocial support.
“Earlier this week, Carl Skau of WFP and I met families who have lost everything except hope,” remarked UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban at a recent UN media briefing. He described families forced into makeshift shelters and public schools, while others are left with no option but to sleep on the streets or beachfronts. “The psychological toll is immense, particularly on the young,” Chaiban added, recalling his encounter with 11-year-old Zeinab, a child traumatized by the destruction of her home.
The conflict, coupled with the cholera threat, has stretched Lebanon’s already strained healthcare system to its breaking point. WHO and the Ministry of Health are leveraging lessons from the 2022-2023 cholera outbreak, which resulted in 23 deaths and over 8,000 suspected cases. With health supplies arriving in Beirut earlier this month, including over 116 metric tons of cholera-related medical materials, efforts are underway to preposition essential resources and possibly reintroduce oral cholera vaccines in high-risk areas. However, the risk remains high.
As winter approaches, the crisis is poised to worsen. “Winter is coming, and it’s getting cold here,” Chaiban emphasized, stressing the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades in the more than 1,000 shelters. Compounding these challenges is the impact on education, as public schools are either destroyed, inaccessible, or repurposed as shelters. Without intervention, an entire generation of Lebanese children could be lost to the conflict and cholera.
The international community has been urged to act swiftly. “Funding is critical,” said Chaiban. He pointed out that UNICEF’s appeal is currently only 8% funded, calling for more support to ensure uninterrupted humanitarian assistance.
With WHO and its partners working to contain the cholera outbreak and humanitarian agencies addressing the pressing needs of displaced families, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges. Amid the dual crises of conflict and disease, Lebanon’s vulnerable population remains on the brink. As Dr. Abubakar concluded, “Our goal is to limit transmission, reduce the burden of the disease, and improve overall health outcomes, but we cannot do it alone.”