2007 Lebanon Emergency

The Health Cluster meeting was held at UNRWA Lebanon Field Office on 3 July. This is an overview of what particpants discussed.

UNRWAÆs chief of health met with the Health Care Society to ensure proper coordination on how medicines should be issued without duplication and abuse. He also met with held the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) to ensure proper coordination of issuing of medicines.

UNRWA discussed the first phase of the re-entry to Nahr el-Bared camp.

UNRWA Health Coordinator discussed with UNICEF and the Higher Relief Committee (HRC) assistance to pregnant women at the Beddawi Governmental School for Boys. New arrangements were made to have the area responsive to the needs of women during the postnatal period.

UNRWAÆs mobile clinic continued to visit displaced families at Menieh, Tripoli and surrounding villages. The team is providing medical care services and vaccinating children.

A team of UNRWA medical officer and nurse continued to visit the schools to check up on the health situation and counsel the families on public and personal hygiene.

There has been no significant change in the incidence of common communicable diseases in Beddawi Camp, mobile and Mina clinics.

Insect and rodent control measures are being taken in displacement areas and Beddawi Camp through spraying and the supply of baits.

Maintenance to shelters accommodating internally displaced persons in Beddawi Camp is going on. An average of 10 to 15 shelters is benefiting from this service. Water tanks have been installed in the lanes of Beddawi Camp as a security measure for fire fighting. UNRWA is pumping an average of three thousand cubic metres of potable water to Beddawi Camp and is disposing of an average of 20 tons of refuse daily.

UNRWA provided the displacement centres with first aid emergency kits for use by non-medical persons.

UNICEF will supply UNRWA with 500 posters on personal hygiene and an equivalent amount of posters on control of scabies and lice for display at UNRWA institutions outside north Lebanon. It is worth noting the health education campaign and the intensive management of cases suffering of scabies and lice has been successful.

UNICEF will purchase baby cots for newborn infants.

PRCS has been unable to transport medications, food and water supplies to Nahr el-Bared camp for the previous few days.

The next meeting will be held at the same venue on 10 July 2007.

The Health Cluster meeting was held at UNRWA Lebanon Field Office on 26 June. This is an overview of what particpants discussed.

Seven health teams completed the poliomyelitis and measles vaccination campaign in northern Lebanon. At least 3,931 children have received the poliomyelitis vaccine and 11,091 children received the measles vaccine. UNRWA Field Disease Control Officer (FDCO) presented the results of the vaccination campaign in north Lebanon. A detailed report on this activity is attached.

A meeting was held between UNRWA and WHO at UNRWA Lebanon Field Office on 19 June. They discussed the situation in northern Lebanon and agreed to have training on first aid for UNRWA health staff throughout Lebanon. Lebanese Red Cross will conduct the training in coordination with WHO and UNRWA. WHO reiterated its readiness to continue providing its technical assistance to UNRWA.

The mobile clinic continued to visit displaced families at Menieh, Tripoli and surrounding villages. The team is providing medical care services and vaccinating children.

There has been no significant change in the incidence of common communicable diseases as reported by Beddawi, Mobile and Mina clinics clinic.

A team of UNRWA medical officer and nurse continued to visit the schools to check up on the health situation and counsel the families on public and personal hygiene.

Pamphlets on personal hygiene, scabies and lice continued to be distributed to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Beddawi Camp residents. Health education sessions on these issues are being done.

The number of consultations for IDPs and for residents is back to regular patterns.

Awareness campaign conducted by Mines Advisory Group (MAG) for UNRWA staff is ongoing.

UNRWA has launched an awareness campaign to inform the refugees of Nahr el-Bared regarding the dangers of the mines and unexploded ordnances left behind and the dangers of rushing back immediately. UNRWA has ongoing concerns that the refugees will rush back after the fighting has stopped to check on their houses, and this may cause additional problems and casualties. Through the awareness campaign, UNRWA, with UNICEF and MAG, hopes to prevent additional casualties in a conflict that has so far claimed dozens of civilian lives. UNICEF in coordination with NPA has posted thousands of posters, banners, flyers, leaflets and labels had been printed for distribution around the Beddawi Camp, where most of the displaced people are presently located. In addition UNRWA is making use of a local satellite channel in Beddawi Camp to disseminate information on the dangers of unexploded ordinates (UXOs) and is passing health educational messages to the public.

Beit Atfal Al Somoud is providing psychosocial support to refugees. They are planning a project on promotion of health and hygiene in Beddawi Camp. In addition, they will estabish a gynaecology clinic in Beddawi Camp by the beginning of July.

Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) is training 400 UN staff on risk-oriented UXO awareness in coordination with UNICEF and Balamand University.

NabaÆa continued to provide psychosocial activities in Beddawi camp.

Health Care Society is providing medications for the management of chronic diseases including psychiatric conditions

Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is preparing plans for the return to Nahr el-Bared. PRCS is planning to install two caravans to serve as a clinic and will provide laboratory, radiology and rehabilitation services and emergency care in addition to consultations.

The below information an overview of the latest Shelter Cluster meeting.

Location: UNRWAÆs Lebanon Field Office
Participants: Premier Urgence, UNRWA, Norwegian Refugee Council, ACTED, Najdee Association, PARD.

Agreement: Try to do an assessment of further needs- monitoring and documentation is needed.

Agreement: A community approach is needed on æquick fixingÆ and light repairs, assessments, emergency repair. A community approach was agreed on- NGOs will coordinate- there will be an area coordination based on where local NGOs are already.

In brief:

-De-mining

-Mixed reports on status of buildings- some say buildings are badly damaged, others say that damage is minimal; cannot know till conflict is over;

-Mines Advisory Group (MAG) believes there will a significant many booby traps within the camp- NGOs must ensure they are prepared for these conditions;

-Every person who enters the camp should go through MAG training; schedules are posted on Lebanon Support website;

-UNRWA is working on getting an identification system to identify buildings in Nahr el-Bared.

Regarding the assessment of Nahr el-Bared:

-ACTED: NGO teams will attend with engineers during the technical assessment;

-From the shelter perspective, assessment needs to be run in teams- everyone needs to use same approach;

-UNRWA believes it is important the local community is involved in assessment;

-MAG has already identified and trained persons from the community (two per sector);

-UNRWA: We need to reach a common understanding on how fast and how detailed the assessments will be;

-UNRWA: It is important that NGOs in technical assessment teams refer things to the professional de-miners.

The Health Cluster meeting was held at UNRWA Lebanon Field Office on 18 June. This is an overview of what particpants discussed.

Seven health teams completed the poliomyelitis and measles vaccination campaign in north Lebanon on 16 June. However, vaccination of children who did not receive the vaccine(s) during the campaign will be vaccinated during this week at the health centre. So far 3868 children have received the poliomyelitis vaccine and 10,966 children received the measles vaccine.

There has been no significant change in the incidence of common communicable diseases as reported by Beddawi clinic. The Field Disease Control Officer is intensifying his visits to northern Lebanon for follow-up reporting of communicable diseases and the vaccination campaign.

The mobile clinic continued visiting displaced families at Menieh, Tripoli and surrounding villages. The team is providing medical care services and vaccinating children.

The school health team continued to visit the schools. All cases with pediculosis and scabies were provided with treatment; and the team ensured the use of the medications. Pamphlets on scabies and pediculosis have already been distributed.

Two posters have been dispatched to north Lebanon: one on the health services provided by UNRWA and another on rational use of water.

UNICEF is working on UXO awareness campaign in Beddawi Camp in preparation for return of refugees to Nahr- el-Bared Camp. They are training UNRWA teachers and community members and distributing posters in places where displaced are available.

Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is planning to start four mobile clinics in Nahr el-Bared once safe entry is guaranteed. Specialists from PRCS and Qatar Red Crescent Society will be operating in Nahr el-Bared.

Beit Atfal Al Somoud have counseled and managed around 1000 refugees suffering of psychological disorders. They are conducting health awareness campaigns for the displaced in Beddawi and other locations where the displaced are housed.

Norwegian People Aid (NPA) is providing care to the disabled in Beddawi Camp and asked the participants to send any internally displaced persons they know are disabled to be assisted. In addition, NPA is providing rehabilitation to 25 persons who were injured during the crisis.

NabaÆa is conducting a workshop on dealing with psychologically traumatized children and will distribute 1000 hygiene kits next week.

The Health Cluster meeting was held at the health conference room at UNRWA Lebanon Field Office on 12 June.

UNRWA Chief Field Health Programme (CFHP) welcomed the presence and thanked them for responding to the invitation. He also commended their efforts to assist IDPs in Beddawi Camp and other locations. The participants deplored and expressed their deep sorrow for the killing of two medical aids of the Lebanese Red Cross. CFHP stated the objectives of the meeting and briefed the participants on what UNRWA did since the last meeting:

All the preparations for the vaccination campaign against poliomyelitis and measles were completed, including social mobilization and micro planning, on 7 June. Posters have been prepared and posted in conspicuous places in the camp and displacement areas. Health teams were identified and allocated to various sectors of the camp and the displacement areas. Training of staff was done and supplies were dispatched to north Lebanon. Seven health teams started the campaign on 8 June. So far 2,476 children have received poliomyelitis vaccine and 7,189 children received measles vaccine.

UNRWAÆs needs of medical supplies were forwarded to the members of the health cluster.

There has been no significant change in the incidence of common communicable diseases as reported by Beddawi clinic. The average number of consultations at Beddawi clinic is 550 for IDPs, 170 for Beddawi camp residents and 40 for IDPs in Tripoli and the surrounding villages. The number of consultations for IDPs since the beginning of the crisis was 13,182, and for residents 5,070.

A team of UNRWA medical officer and nurse continue to visit the schools to check up on the health situation and counsel the families on public and personal hygiene.

The Health Sub-Cluster is meeting regularly in Beddawi Camp. The main issues raised were: transportation of patients to hospitals, sending baby food to Nahr el-Bared and treatment of war casualties.

UNRWA Health Coordinator in the north is holding daily meetings with NGOs to discuss activities mainly in the health domain.

Pamphlets on scabies and pediculosis were dispatched to Beddawi camp on the 12 June.

The following has been provided by NGOs to date:

Norwegian People Aid (NPA) is working on the disabled persons. They provided 350 disabled persons in Beddawi camp with special milk formulas, stretchers, crutches, medications and water mattresses. They are cooperating with Handicap International.

Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has established clinics in UNRWA schools, Menia village and in one Governmental school. PRCS is cooperating with Qatari Red Crescent Society in Beddawi Camp.

Health Care Society (HCS) is providing medications for patients with chronic diseases and psychiatric conditions including those for the epileptic patients.

Beit Atfal Al-Somoud is providing mental health services to the displaced through three psychiatrists and three psychologists.

NabaÆa is providing psychosocial support to the displaced children by providing psychiatric consultations, drama therapy and self expression therapy. They, also train volunteers to deal with the children suffering of psychiatric disorders. They conducted a campaign on personal hygiene.

UNICEF is providing medical supplies to PRCS and will provide supplies to UNRWA. They conducted breastfeeding campaign in coordination with PRCS and UNRWA. UNICEF will provide health educational materials on scabies pediculosis diarrhea and breastfeeding.

Response International is ready to provide prosthesis and minor supplies to the disabled. They are also working on mental health.

WHO suggested collecting information of the injured persons.

Medicins du Monde provided medications to PRCS and is ready to provide health educational materials on scabies and pediculosis.

The below is an overview of the minutes of the health cluster meeting.

The Health Cluster meeting was held at UNRWA Lebanon Field Office on 5 June 2007.

Dr. Jamil Yusef, UNRWA Chief Field Health Programme (CFHP) welcomed participants.

The clinic at Beddawi Camp began operating in two shifts on 23 May- receiving an average of 900 patients every day. Additional health workers were hired to assist in management of patients in Beddawi clinic. Additional medical supplies were also provided clinic. In addition, health staff are counselling mothers on breastfeeding.

A mobile health team is visiting internally displaced persons (IDP) locations and is offering the required assistance.

There are no signs of outbreaks of communicable diseases. Diseases transmitted through environmental health vehicles are closely monitored.

Two clinics has been established in two UNRWA schools in Beddawi Camp. Safad Hospital is receiving casualties.

Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has established a mobile clinic in Mnieh village for management of displaced patients.

UNICEF has distributed medical supplies especially for children and delivery kits. UNICEF also started health education campaigns and psychosocial support with its partners.

NabaÆa is distributing hygiene kits and vouchers for clothes. In addition, NabaÆa is providing psychosocial support in coordination with UNICEF.

Beit Atfal Assumoud are also providing comprehensive psychosocial support in Beddawi camp.

Health Care Society (HCS) is providing assistance in the form of medications. They are coordination with URNWA in order to avoid duplication and overlap of services will be made.

Although the vaccination coverage in UNRWA refugee camps is almost complete, it has been decided to provide polio and measles vaccines to children.

UNRWA is ready to move to Nahr el-Bared Camp immediately after UXO experts declare safe entry.