Middle East Escalation: MSF adapts its programmes and prepares to scale up

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is alarmed by the dramatic escalation in conflict across the Middle East-wide region, following strikes by US and Israeli forces in Iran and Iran’s subsequent retaliatory actions in several countries. MSF is adapting its programmes to respond, and is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving humanitarian needs.

Across the region, the escalation in violence has brought fear to the lives of millions of people. Bombing continues across multiple cities and villages, often hitting densely populated areas, and casualties are mounting. MSF calls for the protection of civilians, hospitals, health facilities, and other essential infrastructure at all times.

Our teams in both Iran and Lebanon are currently confirmed safe, and we are monitoring developments and assessing how to provide support to the people affected. We have medical supplies in both countries ready to be deployed.

In Lebanon

Thousands have been displaced. “The escalation in conflict comes after 15 months of a “ceasefire agreement” that never brought real safety for people in Lebanon,” says MSF Program Manager Francesca Quinto. “The latest strikes and evacuation orders to all of Beirut’s southern suburbs and almost all of the south of the country are now forcing even more people to flee. And there is nowhere safe to go.”

For many people in southern Lebanon and other areas of the country, evacuation orders mean reliving the trauma of displacement all over again. “Families who were slowly beginning to recover from previous fighting are being told to leave their homes. Some have been stranded on the roads with children, elderly relatives, and sick family members, facing extremely harsh conditions,” continues Quinto.

In Lebanon, our teams are adapting activities to respond to the emerging needs of displaced people, while ensuring continuity of care across our regular projects in the country. Since 4 March, a mobile clinic has been providing medical consultations and psychological first aid in Saida, southern Lebanon, where some shelters have exceeded capacity. We also started providing shelters in Beirut with clean water and conducting assessments in Beirut, Rashaya and other areas to scale up mobile clinics and supplies. We are in touch with the relevant authorities to provide additional support where needed.

In iran

Before 28 February, when the escalation began, MSF had been running three projects in Iran, providing essential healthcare to marginalised people – including 6,000 medical consultations per month, as well as midwifery care, infectious disease screening and treatment, and mental health support. Although airstrikes have created operational challenges and despite the communication blackout, MSF has so far been able to continue some activities. Receiving information from our staff is however extremely difficult. Our clinic in Tehran remains temporarily closed due to heavy bombing, while our clinics in Mashhad and Kerman are still open, operating with reduced staff.

Our teams are seeking authorization from authorities to scale up emergency care support in response to conflict-related needs (opening our clinics 24/7 and supporting the local health systems) and are awaiting a response.

In Gaza and the west Bank

Our teams in Gaza and the West Bank continue to address the significant medical and mental health needs. 

In Iraq

MSF has medical supplies available to be deployed in the region if needed.