Lebanon stands at a critical crossroads. While there has been a temporary ceasefire, the humanitarian and health crisis continues to cast a long shadow over communities across the country. Thousands of families remain displaced, homes and infrastructure have been damaged, while healthcare services continue to function across the country, with varying levels of strain in the most affected areas. Recovery is therefore no longer solely about rebuilding what was lost; it is about adapting the health system to prolonged internal displacement and sustained pressure on service delivery in both affected and hosting areas.

According to WHO’s latest Lebanon Health Sector Emergency Situation Report issued on April 20, the situation remains fragile despite the reduction in violence. Many displaced families have begun returning to their communities, only to find damaged homes, unsafe surroundings, and weakened public services. Health facilities in several areas continue to face operational challenges, including shortages of medicines, overstretched staff, and damaged infrastructure.

Although healthcare workers and humanitarian responders have been instrumental in maintaining essential health services throughout the crisis, significant needs remain. Organizations on the ground continue to emphasize the urgent need for sustained support to hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and shelters hosting displaced populations, as well as to local communities.

At the same time, while emergency support remains essential, Lebanon’s recovery must also move beyond immediate response efforts. The country now needs a coordinated health recovery agenda centered on four key priorities:

First, restoring primary healthcare services. As of April 20, WHO reports that 51 Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) remain closed, while eight PHCCs are operating with limited services focused mainly on chronic disease management and emergency care. This has increased pressure on the remaining functional facilities and affected service availability, particularly in areas of return. Communities need functioning centers that provide routine consultations and chronic disease care. Strengthening primary care is therefore essential to reduce pressure on hospitals and ensure services are available closer to affected populations.

Second, ensuring the availability of essential medicines and supplies, alongside facilitating humanitarian organizations’ access to affected areas and their operational capacity on the ground. This is critical for restoring outreach services, and responding to evolving needs amid insecurity and infrastructure damage. This includes maintaining continuity of supply chains and ensuring that health actors on the ground are able to reach affected populations in a timely and effective manner despite operational constraints.

Third, supporting mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Years of crisis, displacement, and insecurity have left deep emotional scars, particularly among children, women, and frontline responders. Mental health and community support services in Lebanon have gradually expanded since the COVID-19 pandemic through the establishment of a 24/7 call center that supports community reporting, provides information, and refers individuals requiring mental health assistance to relevant NGOs. Following the 2024 war, a separate dedicated hotline was also introduced to deliver direct mental health and psychosocial support to the wider population. This integrated and inclusive system is recognized as a strong national practice. However, there is now a continued need to further strengthen these services, particularly by enhancing the communication skills of call center staff and volunteers to better respond to increased demand during emergencies.

Fourth, further strengthening Event-Based Surveillance (EBS), Community-Based Surveillance (CBS), and Early Warning Alert Response System (EWARS). Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2024 war, Lebanon has expanded grassroots surveillance through coordinated efforts among the Ministry of Public Health, the Lebanese Red Cross, other ministries, NGOs, and volunteer networks. This has supported wider integration of EBS and CBS with municipalities, shelters, and community actors across the country, enhancing early detection and response at local level despite ongoing operational challenges. A continued need remains to consolidate and sustain this expansion, particularly by strengthening rapid testing for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs), water sampling, and sample referral mechanisms, among others, to ensure timely public health response.

For countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Lebanon’s experience also reinforces an important lesson: recovery is not merely the absence of conflict. Despite successive and overlapping crises, the health system has continuously adapted and maintained essential services. This resilience highlights the importance of recognizing and building on existing strengths, while supporting sustained recovery efforts. True recovery therefore means ensuring continuity of essential health services, protecting vulnerable populations, strengthening community wellbeing, and reinforcing confidence in the public health system that has demonstrated its capacity to withstand and adapt to repeated shocks.

At EMPHNET, we recognize that sustainable recovery depends on a strong public health system, a skilled workforce, and regional solidarity. Lebanon’s path forward requires continued partnership between national and international organizations and humanitarian actors to rebuild a health system that is not only functional again, but stronger than before.

Because in every crisis, health recovery is where hope begins.

Photo:©IRC