WHO Chief Calls for Urgent Assistance to Lebanon
2021-09-22
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1The head of the World Health Organization says Lebanon is in urgent need of assistance to help it deal with several crises.
2WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke to reporters Friday in Beirut following two days of meetings with Lebanese officials and medical workers.
3Ghebreyesus also visited a number of health care centers.
4He said Lebanon needs emergency and development support to deal with severe economic and structural problems.
5One of the most immediate issues is a shortage of fuel and medicine.
6Ghebreyesus expressed worry that conditions in Lebanon had led many health workers to leave the country.
7The loss has left the country short of much needed human resources, he said.
8Lebanon is a country of 6 million people, including over 1 million Syrian refugees.
9Earlier this month, Ghebreyesus spoke to reporters at a rebuilt WHO warehouse near the city's port.
10The building it replaces had been destroyed in a massive accidental explosion last year.
11The warehouse was used for storing drugs and other medical supplies.
12Ghebreyesus noted that the Lebanese people were already struggling with financial and political problems.
13The COVID crisis and the deadly explosion brought additional disaster.
14"This is heavy. This is very heavy," the WHO chief said.
15"I don't know if there is any country in such a situation, which is really dire."
16For months pharmacies, stores that sell medicine, have been running low on supplies.
17Widespread panic buying had emptied many stores of drugs.
18Many medicine makers decided to hold on to their supplies, planning to sell the medicine later at higher prices.
19Lebanese hospitals are urgently seeking fuel to keep power generators running and operate life-saving machinery.
20The economic crisis has left the government struggling to import basic materials.
21Ghebreyesus said drug shortages threaten tens of thousands of people in Lebanon, including cancer patients.
22Medical workers are forced to use substitute medications for patients.
23Reports suggest that thousands of doctors and nurses have left the country in the past year to seek jobs elsewhere.
24"Nurses are leaving, doctors are leaving," Ghebreyesus said.
25"This is very serious. Its impact will last for many years to come."
26The WHO's director for Lebanon, Iman Shankiti, said the U.N. agency has been trying to help get medicine for cancer and critical patients.
27The WHO also has helped provide fuel for several hospitals for the next few months until a more lasting solution can be found.
28"It is only -- as we call it -- a band-aid, to ensure that the service continues running," Shankiti said.
29"The U.N. again will not be able to replace the system itself."
30Lebanon has been without a fully operating government for over a year.
31A new government was recently named.
32The leaders promised to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund in an effort to negotiate assistance from international donors.
33Ghebreyesus said the WHO will be sending a team of technical experts to help the Lebanese government find solutions and develop plans for reforms.
34I'm Bryan Lynn.
1The head of the World Health Organization says Lebanon is in urgent need of assistance to help it deal with several crises. 2WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke to reporters Friday in Beirut following two days of meetings with Lebanese officials and medical workers. Ghebreyesus also visited a number of health care centers. 3He said Lebanon needs emergency and development support to deal with severe economic and structural problems. One of the most immediate issues is a shortage of fuel and medicine. 4Ghebreyesus expressed worry that conditions in Lebanon had led many health workers to leave the country. The loss has left the country short of much needed human resources, he said. 5Lebanon is a country of 6 million people, including over 1 million Syrian refugees. 6Earlier this month, Ghebreyesus spoke to reporters at a rebuilt WHO warehouse near the city's port. The building it replaces had been destroyed in a massive accidental explosion last year. The warehouse was used for storing drugs and other medical supplies. 7Ghebreyesus noted that the Lebanese people were already struggling with financial and political problems. The COVID crisis and the deadly explosion brought additional disaster. 8"This is heavy. This is very heavy," the WHO chief said. "I don't know if there is any country in such a situation, which is really dire." 9For months pharmacies, stores that sell medicine, have been running low on supplies. Widespread panic buying had emptied many stores of drugs. Many medicine makers decided to hold on to their supplies, planning to sell the medicine later at higher prices. 10Lebanese hospitals are urgently seeking fuel to keep power generators running and operate life-saving machinery. The economic crisis has left the government struggling to import basic materials. 11Ghebreyesus said drug shortages threaten tens of thousands of people in Lebanon, including cancer patients. Medical workers are forced to use substitute medications for patients. Reports suggest that thousands of doctors and nurses have left the country in the past year to seek jobs elsewhere. 12"Nurses are leaving, doctors are leaving," Ghebreyesus said. "This is very serious. Its impact will last for many years to come." 13The WHO's director for Lebanon, Iman Shankiti, said the U.N. agency has been trying to help get medicine for cancer and critical patients. The WHO also has helped provide fuel for several hospitals for the next few months until a more lasting solution can be found. 14"It is only -- as we call it -- a band-aid, to ensure that the service continues running," Shankiti said. "The U.N. again will not be able to replace the system itself." 15Lebanon has been without a fully operating government for over a year. A new government was recently named. The leaders promised to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund in an effort to negotiate assistance from international donors. 16Ghebreyesus said the WHO will be sending a team of technical experts to help the Lebanese government find solutions and develop plans for reforms. 17I'm Bryan Lynn. 18The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 19We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 20_________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22dire - adj. very serious or bad 23pharmacy - n. a shop that prepares and sells medicines 24panic - n. a sudden, strong feeling or worry of fear that makes people unable to think or behave calmly 25alternative - n. one or more things available as another possibility 26impact - n. the effect a person, event or situation has on someone or something 27band-aid - n. a name for a small piece of cloth or plastic that sticks to your skin to cover and protect a small wound