Refugees Included in Lebanon’s COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

A doctor wearing protective gear handles a coronavirus test sample at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters file photo
A doctor wearing protective gear handles a coronavirus test sample at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters file photo
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Refugees Included in Lebanon’s COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

A doctor wearing protective gear handles a coronavirus test sample at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters file photo
A doctor wearing protective gear handles a coronavirus test sample at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters file photo

Lebanon confirmed Thursday that the national vaccination campaign against the coronavirus will include everyone living on its territories, regardless of their nationality or residency status.

World Health Organization's Representative in Lebanon Iman Shankiti told reporters that during a meeting with Health Minister Hamad Hassan, her host had confirmed that the vaccination plan covered all those residing in Lebanon, including refugees.

Lebanon expects to start COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday.

The Minister announced this week that all the necessary technical and logistical matters have been secured through a group of donors to start the inoculations.

Lebanon has an estimated 1.7 million refugees and asylum seekers, and 400,000 migrant workers.

The Ministry aims to vaccinate 80 percent of the population by the end of 2021.

Also on Thursday, Hassan discussed with Caretaker Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe vaccinating personnel at diplomatic missions in Lebanon.

“The meeting aims to put a mechanism for the vaccination of (personnel at) diplomatic missions and embassies in Lebanon, including their local staff,” Wehbe said.

Lebanon is expecting its first delivery of two million Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine doses on Saturday, with priority for inoculations to be given to medical personnel and people aged over 75.

President Michel Aoun's advisor for Russian affairs Amal Abou Zeid said following talks with Russia’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, that Moscow is ready to provide Lebanon with vaccines for free.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Islamic Awqaf announced an exceptional decision to open mosques for Friday prayers.

It called on worshipers to respect precautionary and prevention measures.

The decision came despite the ongoing rise in COVID-19 cases.



Israel Pounds Central Beirut, Suburbs after Major Evacuation Warnings

A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
TT

Israel Pounds Central Beirut, Suburbs after Major Evacuation Warnings

A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin

Israeli strikes pounded a densely-populated part of the Lebanese capital and its southern suburbs on Tuesday, hours ahead of an anticipated announcement of a ceasefire ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

A strike on Beirut hit the Noueiri district with no evacuation warning and killed at least one person, Lebanon's health ministry said in a preliminary toll.

Minutes later, at least 10 Israeli strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs. They began approximately 30 minutes after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for 20 locations in the area, the largest such warning yet.

As the strikes were under way, Israel's military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a "widespread attack" on Hezbollah targets across the city.

The Israeli military said it was currently striking Hezbollah in the Beirut area saying: "You are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah, against which the Israel Forces will act in the near future," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X including a map of the targeted areas.

The army in a statement minutes later said it "is currently conducting strikes on Hezbollah terror targets in the area of Beirut" but did not provide more details.