Lebanon: COVID Cases Almost as Much as Number of Vaccinated People

Medical staff members work at an intensive care unit for patients suffering from the coronavirus disease, at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon Jan. 21, 2021. (Reuters)
Medical staff members work at an intensive care unit for patients suffering from the coronavirus disease, at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon Jan. 21, 2021. (Reuters)
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Lebanon: COVID Cases Almost as Much as Number of Vaccinated People

Medical staff members work at an intensive care unit for patients suffering from the coronavirus disease, at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon Jan. 21, 2021. (Reuters)
Medical staff members work at an intensive care unit for patients suffering from the coronavirus disease, at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon Jan. 21, 2021. (Reuters)

Lebanon reported a decline in coronavirus infections and deaths in the past few weeks over the mass vaccination campaign, bringing the number of vaccinated people and those infected to equal rates.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said that the country recorded 242 covid-19 cases and six deaths over the past 24 hours.

The new cases bring the total number of infections in Lebanon since the virus was first detected in the country in February 2020 to 540,630.

Also, a total of 513,000 individuals had received the first virus jab, while the number of people who are now fully vaccinated reached 252,000.

Meanwhile, the president of the National Federation of Trade Unions and Employees in Lebanon, Castro Abdallah, met with Fadi Sinan, acting director-general of the Health Ministry, to discuss launching vaccination centers on Sundays to allow migrant workers to receive the vaccine, the NNA reported Wednesday.

The possibility of vaccinating 20-40-year-old workers in institutional and industrial sectors was also discussed, as the nature of work requires interacting with people and moving around, the union's statement detailed.

However, Rafik Hariri Hospital Director Firas Abiad warned that “the healthcare system is unraveling at an accelerated pace; the damage may soon become permanent."

"When neglected, the illness usually becomes worse with time, not better. So too do public health services. Without a safety net, all of society will suffer, and not just the poor," Abiad noted in a tweet.



EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
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EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)

The European Union on Monday condemned new Israeli measures to tighten control of the West Bank and pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, AFP reported.

"The European Union condemns recent decisions by Israel's security cabinet to expand Israeli control in the West Bank. This move is another step in the wrong direction," EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni told journalists.


Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The atrocities unleashed on El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region last October were a "preventable human rights catastrophe", the United Nations said Monday, warning they now risked being repeated in the neighbouring Kordofan region.

 

"My office sounded the alarm about the risk of mass atrocities in the besieged city of El-Fasher for more than a year ... but our warnings were ignored," UN rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

 

He added that he was now "extremely concerned that these violations and abuses may be repeated in the Kordofan region".

 

 

 

 


Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

The General Secretariat of the Arab League strongly condemned decisions by Israeli occupation authorities to impose fundamental changes on the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in the West Bank, describing them as a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international law, international legitimacy resolutions, and signed agreements, SPA reported.

In a statement, the Arab League said the measures include facilitating the confiscation of private Palestinian property and transferring planning and licensing authorities in the city of Hebron and the area surrounding the Ibrahimi Mosque to occupation authorities.

It warned of the serious repercussions of these actions on the rights of the Palestinian people and on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The statement reaffirmed the Arab League’s firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.