Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with Nasser Yassin, coordinator of the National Disaster and Crisis Response Operations Coordination Committee, and Major General Mohammad Mustafa, Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council, with whom he reviewed the results of the committee’s meeting held earlier on Wednesday at the Grand Serail.
In the wake of the meeting, Minister Yassin said: “The Crisis and Disaster Management Committee held a meeting today, following a Cabinet session yesterday as directed by Prime Minister Mikati. We assessed the situation in light of the major Israeli aggression that targeted Lebanese civilians. We extend our condolences to the families of the martyrs and wish the wounded a speedy recovery.”
Yassin added: “During the meeting, we heard from the Ministry of Health about the current situation, the number of injured, and how medical and emergency teams have been providing care to the wounded. I would like to commend the great efforts made by medical teams and emergency responders, led by Minister of Health Dr. Firas Abiad; they’ve coordinated an extraordinary response. We also discussed potential scenarios in case the aggression expands, something we’ve been preparing for over recent months with regular updates to our contingency plans.”
Moreover, Yassin pointed out two main areas of focus: “First, housing. The Ministry of Education has identified 100 schools that can be used for shelter. We are coordinating with the Ministries of Social Affairs and Interior, as well as regional crisis committees and emergency rooms, under the supervision of the governors. Major General Mohammad Khair, Secretary-General of the High Relief Commission, is working on preparing these schools with essential supplies to house displaced people.”
Yassin continued: “Second, food security. A representative from the Ministry of Economy confirmed that Lebanon’s food reserves are sufficient for more than three months, and a ship carrying 40,000 tons of wheat and flour is on its way. We are also coordinating with international organizations, including the World Food Programme, to ensure 50,000 food parcels are ready for displaced families. We reviewed logistics to secure the work of the Crisis and Disaster Management Committee, particularly in communications, transportation, and regional emergency rooms.”
Regarding challenges and gaps in the response, Yassin said: “There are always challenges. Yesterday, the health sector, medical teams, ambulance services, the Civil Defense, the Red Cross, and other emergency groups did a tremendous job. They demonstrated the importance of our country’s emergency preparedness. In a matter of minutes, nearly 3,000 injuries were treated in hospitals and ambulances. This was a remarkable achievement. However, there were challenges, especially in transporting patients between hospitals, triaging the injured, and relocating them to other areas. There was also a shortage of ophthalmologists and eye surgeons. What happened yesterday was a real war, similar to what we experienced during the Beirut Port explosion. Yesterday’s attack was another severe test of our preparedness.”
TWEET YOUR COMMENT