Akkar Explosion…MSF Supports Hospitals in Lebanon to Treat Wounded

Médecins Sans Frontières is supporting hospitals in Lebanon to treat wounded people from Akkar's explosion that occurred on Sunday.

On Sunday morning, a fuel tanker exploded in Tleil, a village in Akkar in the north of Lebanon, killing 33 people and wounding 79.

In response, Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provided medical supplies and human resources to hospitals who are admitting wounded patients.

“The health system in Lebanon is responding to this latest tragic development under extremely challenging conditions,” said Joao Martins, MSF’s Head of Mission in Lebanon.

“There are critical shortages in medicine, supplies and medical personnel as well as electricity and fuel ruptures that are impacting the operations of medical facilities and quality of care," Martins added.

"The supplies and staff provided by MSF are assisting the hospitals in providing the required treatments for those injured.”

The explosion took place as residents of the area were attempting to collect gasoline from fuel containers which had been confiscated by the Lebanese army and were being distributed for free.

Fuel has largely been unavailable recently and is slated to become more expensive after subsidies on fuel imports were lifted by the central bank.

In this sense, MSF provided medicines, medical supplies and deploy medical staff to the Al Salam Hospital in Tripoli North Lebanon; Notre Dame De La Paix Hospital in Qobayat; and Geitaoui Hospital in Beirut, with a focus on material needed for surgery and the treatment of severe burns.

“Despite the immediate support provided, assistance for long term treatment is expected to be needed for some of the patients. MSF remains ready to respond if needed,” Martins asserted.