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.



Lebanon's Salam Calls for 'Full Israeli Withdrawal' while Visiting Border Areas

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam checks a map surrounded by Lebanese army soldiers as he visits the sourthern village of Khiam near the border with Israel, on February 28, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam checks a map surrounded by Lebanese army soldiers as he visits the sourthern village of Khiam near the border with Israel, on February 28, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
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Lebanon's Salam Calls for 'Full Israeli Withdrawal' while Visiting Border Areas

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam checks a map surrounded by Lebanese army soldiers as he visits the sourthern village of Khiam near the border with Israel, on February 28, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam checks a map surrounded by Lebanese army soldiers as he visits the sourthern village of Khiam near the border with Israel, on February 28, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)

Lebanon’s new prime minister, Nawaf Salam, used a tour on Friday of areas near the border with Israel that suffered wide destruction during the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war to call for an Israeli withdrawal and promised residents of border villages a safe return to their homes and reconstruction.
Salam's visit came two days after his government won a vote of confidence in parliament.
“This is the first real working day of the government. We salute the army and its martyrs,” Salam said in the southern port city of Tyre while meeting residents of the border village of Dheira. “We promise you a safe return to your homes as soon as possible.”
The government is committed to the reconstruction of destroyed homes, which “is not a promise but a personal commitment by myself and the government,” Salam added.
Israel withdrew its troops from much of the border area earlier this month, but left five outlooking posts inside Lebanon, in what Lebanese officials called a violation of the US-brokered ceasefire that came into effect on Nov. 27, ending the war.
Salam said his government is gathering Arab and international support in order “to force the enemy to withdraw from our occupied lands and the so-called five points.”
“There is no real and lasting stability without full Israeli withdrawal,” he said.
During his tour, Salam -- who also visited the southern cities of Marjayoun and Nabatiyeh — praised the UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL.
In mid-February, UNIFIL’s outgoing deputy commander was injured when Hezbollah-linked protesters attacked a convoy taking peacekeepers to the Beirut airport.
On Friday, three judicial officials told The Associated Press that 26 people have been charged in the attack on UNIFIL, including five who are in detention and the rest remain at large.
The officials said 26 have were charged late Thursday by the Military Court’s Government Commissioner Judge Fadi Akiki with terrorism, undermining state authority, robbery and forming a gang to carry out evil acts. The judicial officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said those charged could get up to life in prison.
The officials also said that a bag was stolen from UNIFIL’s convoy that had about $30,000 in cash and that the money is still missing.