Lebanon – Emergency response to combat the cholera epidemic (Oct. 31, 2022)

Faced with the cholera epidemic in Lebanon, France is mobilizing its support for the Lebanese people and responding to the Lebanese authorities’ request for international aid.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Center has coordinated a shipment of more than 13,000 doses of cholera vaccine donated by Foundation S – The Sanofi Collective, via the Tulipe association.

This is the first component of our aid package for Lebanon. Our Embassy in Beirut conveyed all the vaccines to the Lebanese Health Ministry, which will distribute them in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO); first responders will receive the first vaccinations.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has also provided emergency funding to Solidarités International, which will help combat the spread of the disease through water chlorination, the construction and rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructures, and outreach regarding best practices to stop the epidemic’s spread. These efforts will benefit more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, especially in the north of the country (Tripoli and Akkar), one of the areas hardest hit by the epidemic.

The Lebanese healthcare system has been seriously undermined by the very deep political and economic crisis that has affected the country for months. This epidemic comes as a reminder that the Lebanese authorities must carry out structural reforms in order to have effective healthcare, water and sanitation systems. That is the focus of French efforts in Lebanon, especially through the French Development Agency (AFD) in conjunction with the EU. This effort will also be facilitated through the implementation of the agreement between Lebanon and the IMF, which may pave the way to funding for the central and municipal governments.

France and its partners will continue to stand with Lebanon, as always.