America News Agency

According to CCTV, Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon are making it difficult to maintain health services in the region and increasing pressure on Lebanon's health sector.

Hisham Fawaz, head of the Hospitals and Dispensaries Department at Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, said damage to health facilities, along with growing medical and humanitarian needs, is increasing the burden on the health system.

Fawaz said three important health facilities have been lost in southern Lebanon: Bint Jbeil Governmental Hospital, Mays el-Jabal Governmental Hospital and the Martyr Salah Ghandour Hospital in Bint Jbeil.

He said this situation has increased the burden on hospitals in rear areas, such as Tibnin Governmental Hospital, Nabatieh Hospital and Tyre Hospital.

Fawaz said displacement in the affected areas is also increasing pressure on health facilities, adding that these hospitals were subjected to prolonged and direct attacks during previous conflicts.

It was stated that Lebanon's health sector needs urgent and sustainable support for the supply of medicines, medical supplies and equipment. Rehabilitating damaged health facilities and ensuring the continuity of health services were cited among the priority needs.

Fawaz said there are extensive needs, particularly in the emergency health services sector, noting that many health workers were killed or injured during previous conflicts. He added that volunteer emergency response organizations also lost numerous centers, ambulances and fire engines.

Fawaz said large-scale projects are needed to bring damaged and unusable hospitals back into operation, noting that work is underway on international projects aimed at restoring hospitals to their pre-war condition.

The statement said international cooperation plays an important role in meeting the needs of Lebanon's health sector. Cooperation with China, in particular, was said to provide support through medical aid and supplies, as well as expertise and long-term projects.

Fawaz said China had provided assistance to Lebanon during previous crises, adding that an aircraft carrying aid from China arrived in Lebanon during the latest war and that they are expecting another aid aircraft to arrive.