Dr Balladelli, WHO Regional Emergency Coordinator, with Marah, a Syrian refugee, at a refugee settlement in Tripoli, Lebanon
14 October 2013 - Since the outbreak of the crisis, Lebanon has seen its population rise by nearly one third. For over two years Syria’s neighbours have struggled to cope with the protracted influx of Syrian refugees. According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) over 780 000 refugees, 76% of whom are women and children, have fled Syria into Lebanon.
With the increasing number of refugees, local and governmental resources are being strained to unparalleled levels, especially the health sector. In Lebanon, as in all other host countries across the Region, Syrian refugees are in great need of health care, and both refugees and at-risk local populations suffer from poor access to quality health services. This is a major concern for WHO and health sector partners.
