Attachments
NATIONAL SOCIETY PROFILE
The Lebanese Red Cross was established in 1945 as an auxiliary to public authorities, providing effective and efficient humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities in Lebanon. It was admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 1948. The National Society is the primary provider of ambulance care and blood transfusion services in the country, which are delivered free of charge to those in need. The National Society is also a major actor in the areas of disaster risk management and medico-social services. During the civil war in Lebanon, the National Society built a reputation providing neutral and impartial services to communities in the country and has continued to provide critical services during periods of unrest following the 2019 protest movement.
The Lebanese Red Cross has been responding to many crises in recent years and has made significant achievements. Since 2018, the National Society has provided services and humanitarian assistance to more than 475,000 people through its long-term services and development programmes. Through its disaster response and early recovery programmes, it has assisted more than 142,000 people in need of support in 2022. In 2023 alone, the Lebanese Red Cross responded to multiple needs linked to complex national and regional crises, and climate and health related hazards.
The Lebanese Red Cross Strategic Plan 2021-2024 identifies five overarching operational priorities:
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Ensuring that victims of accidents, illnesses and major incidents receive prompt and effective pre-hospital emergency care
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Providing safe blood products to patients in Lebanon
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Improving access to quality health care services
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Meeting the basic needs, including economic security, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene of vulnerable people affected by disasters, crises, and emergencies
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Reducing the impact of disasters on the population through prevention and mitigation measures
The Strategic plan also defines ten objectives for the development of the National Society, and three cross-cutting themes consisting of protection, gender and inclusion, community engagement and accountability, and social and environmental development.
The chief strength of the National Society consists in its excellent reputation which always provides the National Society with access to all parts of the country. The Lebanese Red Cross’ provisioning of vital national service such as ambulance and blood transfusion give the National Society high visibility and makes it a key partner to authorities and other organizations. The National Society has a wide-ranging response capacity throughout the country which enables it to respond rapidly to disasters and crises.
In Lebanon, the Palestine Red Crescent Society is also active, in view of the specific needs of Palestinian refugees. Founded in 1968, the Palestine Red Crescent Society is the only independent Palestinian institution able to work in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, as well as supporting Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. Until 1994, the Palestine Red Crescent worked outside of the occupied Palestinian territories, after which it was allowed to operate in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The National Society has a total of 36 branches, sub-branches, youth and volunteer committees in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, along with four branches in the diaspora in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. The National Society supports Palestinians in Lebanon and other vulnerable communities to access primary and secondary health care services, which would otherwise be unaffordable.
The Palestine Red Crescent’s branch in Lebanon manages a series of hospitals and clinics, and it provides emergency and other services in refugee camps and other Palestinian communities. Its aim is to support populations who have limited or no access to social and civil rights, public health and educational facilities, and public social services. Without compromising on the medical services offered to the local Palestinian population, the National Society also aims to continue receiving vulnerable refugees at hospitals in Beirut, Tripoli, Saida, Bekaa-Bar Elias, and Tyr.
The Palestine Red Crescent’s Lebanese branch currently provides community-based health and first aid at eight refugee camps in Ain el Helwe, Mar Elias, Shatilla, Nahr el Bared, Baalbeck, Burj el Shamali, Albuss, and Tyr. The branch provides in-patient care across five hospitals, for internal medicine, intensive care, pediatric, gynecological, and obstetric services. This plan focuses on the priorities of the Lebanese Red Cross, as well as IFRC network’s support to the Palestine Red Crescent Society Lebanon Branch.