“The two patients who died while we were transferring them are not just numbers… they are someone’s mother, sister, or wife.”

With a voice filled with grief, Dr. Ali Karim, director of Bahman Hospital, told Daraj about the harsh reality of being forced to evacuate patients and clear the hospital following an Israeli warning ordering residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate the area as it was designated a target for bombardment.

In response, hospitals in the area, led by Bahman and Sahel Hospitals, rushed to evacuate patients and transfer them to nearby hospitals or to areas considered relatively safer.

This evacuation led to the closure of multiple departments, including specialized treatment centers. Notably, the cancer treatment center at Sahel Hospital, which had been receiving a large number of patients for chemotherapy sessions, was forced to shut down.

Since the expansion of the Israeli war on Lebanon on March 2, five hospitals have gone completely out of service, while another five continue to operate only partially, according to Abdulnasser Abu Bakr, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaking to Daraj.

Cancer Patients Displaced

During the forced evacuation of Sahel Hospital, a complex crisis emerged for cancer patients. Iman (a pseudonym for personal reasons) fled Beirut’s southern suburbs with her mother after Israeli strikes at dawn on March 2, only to find themselves without shelter while her mother was undergoing breast cancer treatment.

“The first concern that hit us after the evacuation of Sahel Hospital was my mom’s treatment… where do we go? How will I continue her care?” Iman said, expressing her shock and anxiety over her mother’s health in an interview with Daraj, as she tried to urgently find a solution to continue treatment.

Iman’s mother was scheduled to receive a chemotherapy dose just days after the evacuation warning. Iman attempted to contact her mother’s doctor, but at first, the situation was unclear to everyone amid the chaos accompanying the evacuation, as if it were a sudden health catastrophe.

She added, “Luckily, my mother is registered with the Internal Security Forces, and they were able to help us…” Through this support, her mother managed to reconnect with her doctor, who transferred her medical file and continued her treatment at Saint George Hospital, where he also practices.

Meanwhile, Hani Nassar, head of the Barbara Nassar Association, emphasized that a large number of cancer patients have reached out to the organization seeking access to chemotherapy centers or cancer medications.

Speaking to Daraj, he noted that patients can register on the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health’s “Aman” platform, which will direct them to treatment centers. The association has also provided necessary guidance, confirming that the stock of medications for chronic and critical illnesses is sufficient for at least three months.

Dr. Karim added that many patients ultimately contacted their doctors directly, who transferred their files to hospitals located in safer areas where those doctors also work.

As for casualties inside Beirut’s southern suburbs, they are transported to nearby hospitals closest to the area, according to Iyad Monzer, Director of Public Relations and Communications, speaking to Daraj.

Paramedics and Doctors Under Fire

The Israeli army has escalated its threats, even directly targeting medical personnel. The Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson posted on X that Hezbollah uses ambulances to transport fighters and weapons, presenting this as justification for targeting them.

More than 26 healthcare workers have been killed and over 51 injured since the beginning of the war. Abdulnasser Abu Bakr described this as “extremely dangerous and contrary to international humanitarian law,” which explicitly requires medical personnel to remain neutral and protected in order to treat the wounded during conflict. Attacking them or obstructing their work constitutes a serious violation of the laws of war.

The World Health Organization’s representative in Lebanon, Dr. Abdulnasser Abu Bakr, reaffirmed that the organization’s position is clear regarding the need to protect the health sector during conflicts. He told Daraj, “Health services must remain purely humanitarian and must be protected under all circumstances,” stressing that targeting healthcare facilities or workers cannot be justified.

International Investigations Are the Only Way Forward

In this context, Abu Bakr stressed that any allegations regarding the misuse of healthcare facilities for military purposes must be addressed through proper verification mechanisms, involving local authorities and relevant UN agencies. He added, “Any claim that health facilities are being used for military purposes must be subject to verification by the competent authorities, but this can never justify targeting medical facilities or putting patients and healthcare workers at risk.”

He also noted that the World Health Organization does not have the mandate to investigate such allegations. Its role, he emphasized, is limited to ensuring that health services remain humanitarian and protected under all circumstances.

Meanwhile, during the transfer of patients from Sahel and Bahman hospitals, carried out with the assistance of the Lebanese Red Cross, moving intensive care patients proved to be the most difficult task, according to Bahman Hospital director Dr. Ali Karim.

Describing the scene to Daraj, Karim said that the two patients who died during the transfer were aged 67 and 87, stressing that evacuating intensive care patients is the most dangerous process of all.

In parallel, Abu Bakr revealed that in addition to Bahman Hospital being completely out of service, several hospitals have been partially damaged, including Hasbaya, Jabal Amel, Al-Najda, and Al-Hayat. Hospitals that have fully shut down include Bahman, Sahel, Bint Jbeil Governmental Hospital, and Al-Burj.

Is Lebanon’s Health Sector Becoming Another Gaza?

As the number of casualties among medical personnel in Lebanon continues to rise due to direct Israeli strikes on their centers, particularly in the South and the Bekaa, concerns have emerged about the possibility of Lebanon’s health sector turning into a Gaza-like scenario.

However, Abdulnasser Abu Bakr dismissed this comparison, stating that it is unlikely the situation will reach the level seen in Gaza. Nevertheless, he warned that if the conflict continues without a ceasefire or de-escalation, more healthcare facilities could be affected.

He added that Lebanon has a broader network of hospitals and primary healthcare centers, not only in conflict-affected areas but across the country. “We will not reach the level of Gaza,” he said, “but the continuation of the conflict will have severe impacts on the health system and the healthcare sector as a whole.”