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‘MSF still at work in Lebanon’

ABU DHABI — Even as the displaced Lebanese are now returning home after the ceasfire, the work of the UAE Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders is far from over.

“More than 100,000 displaced Lebanese people who sought refuge in Beirut are now home. As a result, almost all our collective centres are empty,” Frederic Vigneau, executive director of MSF, told Khaleej Times.

But that doesn’t mean that the MSF has completed its work in Lebanon. “We still have 30 international volunteers and 50 locals providing medical assistance to the Lebanese. They are also supplying medical kits to hospitals.”

The organisation has also sent a team to a place near Tyre (Sour) to get an idea of what facilities the people in the region south of the Litani river require. In some of the worst-hit areas along the border with Israel, the MSF has distributed various items like hygienic and cooking sets, sheets, blankets and tents. Baalbek is another region where the organisation is carrying out relief work.

According to Vigneau, the MSF is also offering aid to Lebanese refugees in Syria. “We distributed relief goods among almost 60,000 displaced people across Lebanon as well as among 8,500 refugees in Syria,” said the MSF executive director.

Over the five weeks of war, the MSF has sent more than 80 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid to Lebanon from the Jebel Ali port in Dubai and spent Dh15 million on relief work.

“This money comes from MSF reserves and it is important we receive constant donations so that we can be prepared for any humanitarian crisis where our help would be needed,” said Vigneau.

The MSF will be organising at the Marina Mall today the only fund-raiser for Lebanon it has arranged for so far.

• UAE