The World Health Organization's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ahmed Al-Mandhari, warned today (Thursday) of the extension of hostilities into southern Lebanon, considering that it exposes more civilians to danger and may threaten the health security of the entire region.

This came in a statement issued by the United Nations Information Center in Beirut today at the end of a visit made by Al-Mandhari to Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and employees of the organization to enhance the health system’s preparedness to confront the possibility of the conflict in Gaza spreading to Lebanon.

Al-Mandhari pointed out that the extension of hostilities into southern Lebanon is a cause for concern because it exposes more civilians to the risk of death or injury, and may threaten the health security of the entire region.

He called for a ceasefire in Gaza so that losses and suffering would not worsen.

As part of regional preparedness efforts, Al-Mandhari said, “We are working to ensure that the readiness of the health system in Lebanon is strengthened to deal with mass infections and provide health services to the displaced.”

He noted the World Health Organization's support for Lebanon's plan to establish an emergency operations center in the Ministry of Public Health to "coordinate and support all health preparedness and response activities."

He said that the organization had prepared in advance trauma treatment supplies sufficient for 800 injured people, in 8 public hospitals, to enhance their capacity to accommodate any increase in the number of injured people.

He added that the organization will deliver more trauma and surgical supplies to Lebanon in the coming days, enough for 3,000 injured people, to 30 hospitals to enhance their ability to confront emergencies.

He pointed out that the organization had requested, as part of a regional appeal it launched last week regarding the Gaza crisis, a total amount of $50 million for its efforts to confront the crisis in Gaza, and $10.4 million to support health response efforts in the event that the crisis spreads to Lebanon.

The border between Lebanon and Israel has witnessed on a daily basis since last October 8, due to the impact of the war in Gaza, intermittent bombing and shooting operations between Hezbollah, Palestinian movements, and the Israeli army, which resulted in deaths and injuries on both sides.