QRCS Extends Medical, Food Support to Reduce Coronavirus Impact in Lebanon’s Palestinian Refugee Camps

Doha, September 23 (QNA) - With funding from Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the representation mission of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) in Lebanon has made progress in supporting the emergency response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. So far, 19,700 food baskets and 1,000 family hygiene kits have been distributed at Wavel (Beqaa), Ein El-Hilweh and Mieh ou Mieh (Sidon), Nahr El-Bared, Baalbek, and Burj Barajneh, thus sending the overall number of beneficiaries at the Palestinian camps to 98,500. For the benefit of medical professionals, 70 sets of personal protective equipment (PPEs) were procured to protect ambulance personnel, and similar sets were delivered for 10 medical centers serving camp residents. In coordination with QFFD, QRCSs mission is supervising all the projects activities, together with Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), under a previously signed memorandum of understanding (MoU). Strict preventive measures are followed to ensure the safety of both the beneficiaries and distributors. The project of Coronavirus control at Palestinian refugee camps is aimed at mitigating the spread of the disease and minimizing secondary health impacts, by supporting health facilities to cope with the response to COVID-19 while maintaining other health services running. Targets of the project are 10 health centers, 1 quarantine hospital, and ambulance vehicles to be utilized in patient transportation for the duration of the project. Also, the vulnerable communities are given advise to protect themselves through essential hygiene practices. Another aspect of the QFFD-funded project is to mitigate the adverse economic impact of lockdown, by providing basic food assistance for 27,800 poor families the Palestinian camps and communities in the south and north regions. The total number of beneficiaries is estimated at 139,400, including 8,430 persons with special needs. (QNA)