Thousands of residents in villages near Lebanon’s southern border are struggling to meet their basic needs, with access to water and healthcare extremely limited, according to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, commonly known as MSF.
– Israel has forcibly displaced most Lebanese residents living near the border following its invasion of the country. However, some people remain in the villages of Rmeich, Debel and Ain Ebel. Conditions there have deteriorated significantly, posing a direct threat to life, according to MSF.
– The charity says it “witnessed damaged roads, destroyed infrastructure, and extensive signs of destruction resulting from Israeli military operations” during two separate visits to the villages. It warned that the lack of access to water was one of its greatest concerns.
– “The destruction and disruption of water infrastructure have had serious consequences for civilians. Families are paying increasingly high costs to secure water, while vulnerable groups – including displaced people, elderly, and refugees – face additional barriers to meeting their basic needs,” says Yara Thebian, deputy project coordinator at MSF.
– Residents in need of urgent medical care have waited up to 72 hours for their referrals to be authorised, causing potentially life-threatening consequences, the charity added.
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