LEBANON MEDICAL LIFE CENTER - 2 YEAR UPDATE
World Compassion Fellowship launched two permanent Medical Life Centers (“LC”) in Beirut, and North Lebanon, in partnership with field ministries, the Harold C Smith Foundation (“HCSF”) and our funding supporters. These are two strategic areas for treating large communities of Syrian and Iraqi war refugees since the Syrian Civil War and the Iraqi conflicts began. In addition, this has been an important time to be there as the country has been going through several major crises recently such as the political and economic crisis, COVID-19 lockdowns and the Beirut Port Explosion in August, 2020.
BEIRUT MEDICAL LIFE CENTER
The Beirut Medical LC began in September 2018 at a temporary location initially, but moved to our present location in the middle of a refugee neighborhood with multiple physicians such as Family Physicians, Ob/Gyn and Nephrologists rotating throughout the week. The Beirut Medical Life Center has seen 2,971 total patient visits from November 2018 to December 31, 2020. 77% of our patients were Syrian refugees, 6% were Iraqi and other refugees and the rest were Lebanese or migrant workers. We subsidized 2,843 medications and 1,482 Labs and Imaging Visits.
NORTH LEBANON MEDICAL LIFE CENTER
The North Lebanon Medical LC opened in May 2019 and serves its community with a Family Physician and an Ob/Gyn. It has seen 3,836 total patient visits from October 2019 to December 31, 2020. 91% of the patients were Syrian and the rest were other refugees and Lebanese. We subsidized 3,503 medications and 1,439 Labs and Imaging Visits.
During the lifespan of our project, Lebanon faced a series of major crises. Lebanon has been experiencing a severe political and economic crisis where the currency was drastically devalued and the banking system was nearly paralyzed. The next crisis was the COVID-19 pandemic leading to lockdowns and restrictions which caused severe hardship for the entire country. Many medical clinics near our Beirut LC closed during the economic crisis so our LC was given special governmental permission to continue operating despite the lockdowns. The 3rd crisis was a massive explosion that took place on August 4, 2020 at the Port in Beirut, Lebanon that resulted in more than 200 lives lost, 6,500 wounded, and 300,000 left homeless. This devastation went beyond Beirut as it destroyed the capital’s seaport where about 75% of imports come through. The country imports 80% of its food and goods so this was a devastating blow. In addition, the port’s 120,000 ton capacity grain silo, which is the only one in the country, was destroyed.
WCF and our funding partners were able to provide a month’s supply of Food and Hygiene supplies to more than 49,000 people all throughout Lebanon in 2020 in a separate COVID-19 Relief Project. In addition, we also provided additional medical subsidies for more than 1,800 people through our Life Centers in Lebanon. We also were able to repair multiple churches, schools and homes that were damaged in the explosion.
WCF is grateful for your partnership that has allowed us to bless so many people in Lebanon
