Country: Lebanon Source: International Committee of the Red Cross Across Lebanon, the intensification of hostilities, coupled with evacuation orders covering entire districts in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, has placed enormous strain on the country’s health-care system. In areas affected by evacuation orders, many hospitals are unable to evacuate due to various constraints, leaving patients and staff in vulnerable conditions. For those hospitals that do manage to evacuate, the process places additional strain on the health-care system, as patients, staff, and critical equipment must be transferred, and other facilities are forced to absorb a sudden influx of patients. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is working closely with the Ministry of Public Health, the Public Health Emergency Operational Center and its partners, including the Lebanese Red Cross, to help ensure the continuity of medical care for people affected by the hostilities. “Medical facilities and personnel are a lifeline for civilians. Hospitals and medical services must remain sanctuaries and must not come under threat. This is equally true for all medical and paramedical personnel involved in life-saving operations,” said Agnès Dhur, ICRC Head of Delegation in Lebanon. “Communities across Lebanon who fear for their lives and those of their loved ones need safe and reliable access to healthcare services,” she added. In response to growing needs, the ICRC’s health response has prioritized ensuring continued access to quality medical and surgical care for weapon-wounded individuals in areas most affected by hostilities, including southern Lebanon, Bekaa, Beirut, and Hermel, as well as the dignified management of the deceased. Support to hospitals treating weapon-wounded patients: Up until 13 March, the ICRC in Lebanon supported Emergency Medical Services providers across the country by providing them with medical equipment and consumables enabling them to respond to t