Dr. Kamel Mohanna Calls for Renewed Commitment to Justice, Solidarity, and Human Dignity

Amel Association International officially launched its Annual Strategic Planning Retreat 2025 today at the Golden Lily Resort in Abadiyeh, gathering over 100 staff members, field coordinators, and strategic partners from Lebanon and abroad. The retreat marks a pivotal moment of reflection, resilience, and renewal as Amel prepares to enter a new chapter amid the ongoing aftermath of war and regional instability.

The opening session featured a powerful keynote by Dr. Kamel Mohanna, Amel’s Founder and General Coordinator, who reiterated the organization’s core principles and unveiled an ambitious vision for the years ahead.

“We were born in the fire of war, and we continue to work in its ashes—not as mere responders, but as advocates for a more just world,” stated Dr. Mohanna. “Amel’s work is not about charity, but about dignity. It is a fight for the fundamental right of every human being to live with health, security, and hope.”

A Roadmap Anchored in Values

Dr. Mohanna’s speech emphasized five central pillars for the next two years:

1. Rooting Humanitarian Action in Development and Empowerment: Bridging emergency aid with sustainable solutions that uplift communities.

2. Amplifying Just Causes Globally: With a particular focus on Palestine, Amel will continue to support freedom struggles and oppose global double standards.

3. Reinforcing the Public Good: Advocating for a just state that regulates markets and fills policy gaps left by weak governance.

4. Climate Justice and Environmental Stewardship: Recognizing climate change as a critical humanitarian threat and integrating environmental action into all programs.

5. Expanding the Amel International Movement: Building stronger global solidarity through its branches in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, and the U.S., and extending outreach to Africa, the Arab region, and Latin America.

Reflection and Strategy After a Year of Crisis

The retreat also serves as a moment to process the devastating impacts of the 2024 war on Lebanon, which destroyed 13 of Amel’s centers and created unprecedented humanitarian needs. Yet, as noted in the retreat presentations, Amel rose to the challenge:

• 220 shelters supported, offering food, health, and psychosocial care.

• Over 33,000 health interventions and 24,000 protection services delivered through static and mobile units.

• 711,897 interventions via mobile clinics reached nearly 400,000 people in 2024 alone.

• Community-based action included the formation of 6 youth and women-led groups and 83 contact points for enhanced outreach.

“Despite the rubble, Amel never ceased its mission,” Dr. Mohanna affirmed. “We adapted, persisted, and stayed close to our people. That is our strength—and our promise.”

Staff-Led Strategy, People-Centered Vision

Over the course of the two-day retreat, Amel teams are engaged in discussions around leadership, quality management, program priorities, and a cross-departmental action plan. Central to the deliberations is a reaffirmation of Amel’s mission:

“To place human dignity at the heart of humanitarian action and work towards a just society based on equal citizenship and protected rights.”

Likewise, Amel’s vision of a world where “rights, dignity, and equal opportunities are ensured for all” remains a guiding compass for both grassroots work and global advocacy.

Looking Ahead

In closing, Dr. Mohanna urged staff and allies to embrace the coming years with courage, solidarity, and creativity:

“We are not here to maintain the status quo. We are here to transform it. Let us be the voice of the voiceless, the hands of the excluded, and the conscience of our time. Together, we will build bridges—from suffering to dignity, from despair to justice.”