In a powerful show of support for humanitarian resilience in Lebanon, the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. Hervé Magro, visited the newly inaugurated socio-developmental health center of Amel Association International in the southern city of Sidon. The visit highlighted France’s ongoing partnership with Amel and the shared commitment to upholding human dignity amid the country’s multifaceted crises.
Accompanied by local dignitaries, community leaders, and Amel’s team, Ambassador Magro toured the center’s departments and reviewed its extensive health, social, and developmental programs. The tour was followed by a heartfelt reception hosted by Dr. Kamel Mohanna, founder and president of Amel Association, and General Coordinator of the Network of Volunteer Organizations in Lebanon.
“Sidon is not just a place—it is a partner in our journey,” said Dr. Mohanna in his welcoming remarks. “It’s where our mission began, and it remains central to who we are.”
Mohanna’s speech was a moving tribute to the city’s spirit of resistance and solidarity. He described the new center as more than a building—it is a “manifestation of commitment” to people enduring the compounded effects of war, poverty, and marginalization.
“We are here to rebuild trust, not just buildings,” he declared. “This center is a statement that even amid conflict, the right to health, education, and housing must not be neglected.”
A Center Born in Crisis
Located in the Hayy Hajj Hafiz neighborhood in central Sidon, the Ministry of Public Health-accredited center offers comprehensive primary care and social support services. Within just one year of operation, it has already opened health files for over 2,500 families and now serves 800 patients each month.
The center also operates mobile clinics and psychosocial support units, deploying multidisciplinary teams across southern Lebanon and beyond. As Mohanna noted, teams from Tyre, Beirut, Jbeil, and Marjeyoun have united in Sidon to provide life-saving services—without discrimination or conditions.
“When crises deepen, platforms like this restore people’s faith in dignity, care, and safety,” he said, highlighting France’s pivotal role through its embassy in Beirut and the Crisis and Support Center.
France and Amel: A Legacy of Solidarity
Ambassador Magro, visibly moved by the scope and impact of the center’s work, commended Amel Association’s unwavering dedication to human rights. He praised Dr. Mohanna’s visionary leadership and the center’s staff for “making humanitarian action a daily reality, even in the most trying conditions.”
The French Embassy has been one of the center’s earliest and most consistent supporters. Its partnership has helped launch and sustain a range of initiatives, including programs for maternal and child health, education, child protection, elderly care, women’s empowerment, and livelihood development.
“We believe that the right to health is not a privilege but a necessity for human dignity,” said Mohanna. “And France has been a loyal partner in defending this belief.”
Local Support, Global Vision
MP Dr. Osama Saad, who attended the visit, lauded the center and the ambassador’s presence as a “momentous event” for the capital of the South.
“Amel is a vital institution for Lebanon—serving from the far south to the far north, and everywhere in between,” Saad said. “We in Sidon will always stand by this organization and its great mission.”
A Model for Humanitarian Work
The Sidon center stands today as a model of practical solidarity and community engagement—proof that even in times of chaos, coordinated humanitarian efforts can deliver real impact. As Mohanna concluded:
“No state can be built without respecting human beings and their rights—to health, to education, to safety, and to a dignified life.”
In a region too often defined by turmoil, the Amel center in Sidon is a reminder that hope is still being built—brick by brick, life by life, in partnership with those who refuse to look away.
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