BEIRUT, May 28 (Xinhua) — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will cease healthcare coverage for around 1.5 million Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon starting November, due to a significant decline in donor funding, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported Wednesday.
The decision was announced during a meeting between a UNHCR delegation, led by the agency’s representative in Lebanon Ivo Freijsen, and Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nassereldine.
Freijsen said the decision involves gradually scaling back support for several primary healthcare centers, citing dwindling contributions from international donors.
In response, Nassereldine urged the international community to uphold its humanitarian commitments toward vulnerable populations.
According to Nassereldine, Lebanon witnessed a new wave of displacement less than three months ago, which keeps the number of refugees very high relative to Lebanon’s size and the capacity of its health system to bear additional major burdens.
He also underlined UNHCR’s critical role in working with Lebanon and other international actors to find sustainable solutions that ensure continued healthcare access for refugees, particularly through support to primary health centers.
Lebanon hosts one of the largest per capita populations of Syrian refugees in the world. Despite the regime change and a recent easing of U.S. sanctions, Syria continues to grapple with a fragile security environment and a deteriorated economy, further complicating repatriation efforts and reintegration. ■
