France Reaffirms Support for Lebanon’s Resilience and the Rehabilitation of Primary Healthcare in the South

The President of Amel Association International, Dr. Kamel Mohanna, received the Chargé d’Affaires of the French Embassy in Beirut, Mr. Bruno Pereira da Silva, accompanied by Political Counsellor Marie Favreil and Humanitarian Affairs Officer Marion Dehan, along with Mr. Jean-Bertrand Mot, Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Lebanon, and Mr. Kevin Cherbel, Head of Première Urgence Internationale. The visit took place during a field mission to Amel’s Primary Healthcare Center in the city of Khiam.

The visit formed part of ongoing efforts to assess the situation of the healthcare sector in the most affected southern regions and to identify urgent health and humanitarian needs. It was conducted within a broader tour that included the areas of Khiam and Chebaa, with the participation of representatives of local municipal authorities.

During the meeting, the Chargé d’Affaires of the French Embassy praised the humanitarian and national role played by Amel Association, describing its work as a leading model in the defense of human dignity and the right to health. He reaffirmed that “France will continue to stand by the Lebanese people during this difficult period, in support of their resilience and of the institutions that protect human beings and deliver essential services under the most challenging circumstances.”

For his part, the Director of the French Development Agency emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts between national institutions and international partners, stressing that the rehabilitation of the healthcare sector constitutes a cornerstone of Lebanon’s recovery. He underlined that support to health facilities must be part of a broader vision based on social justice and equality, ensuring fair and non-discriminatory access to essential services for all.

Mr. Kevin Cherbel, Head of Première Urgence Internationale, also highlighted the importance of partnership and coordination with Amel Association, particularly with regard to plans to rebuild the Primary Healthcare Center in Khiam, in response to the needs of the local population and to ensure continuity of healthcare services.

The Khiam Primary Healthcare Center had previously operated with the support of the French Development Agency under the SAQIRH I project, aimed at ensuring the continuity of essential health services and strengthening community resilience. However, in 2024 the center was destroyed as a result of Israeli airstrikes on surrounding neighborhoods, leading to the suspension of services in an area already facing severe health vulnerabilities and growing needs.

In this context, the French Development Agency reaffirmed, through the SAQIRH II project, its commitment to rebuilding and rehabilitating the Khiam center in line with the standards of the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, ensuring the sustainable restoration of primary healthcare services, supporting the gradual return of families to their villages, and reinforcing community resilience.

Dr. Kamel Mohanna thanked the French delegation for France’s continued support, stressing that “health is a fundamental human right, and rebuilding healthcare facilities is not merely about bricks and infrastructure, but about an ethical and humanitarian commitment to people’s dignity and their right to life.” He reaffirmed Amel Association’s determination to remain a key national partner in defending this right despite immense challenges.

He added that “the responsibility of the international community today goes beyond humanitarian assistance. It requires every effort to stop the war in the region, put an end to violations of international law, and achieve justice for the victims.” He called for genuine and effective international pressure to enable the people of the South to return to their villages and to launch a serious reconstruction process that guarantees dignity and the right to a safe life.

“Achieving justice is not an individual act, but a collective project that requires the convergence of efforts worldwide,” Mohanna said. “At a time when international agreements are being undermined and double standards prevail, Amel Association International becomes even more committed to its humanitarian mission, firmly believing that the defense of rights admits no compromise.”

He concluded by affirming that “Amel Association, supported by more than 2,300 staff members and volunteers across Lebanon, through 40 centers, 24 mobile clinics, and a wide range of development and rights-based programs, will remain alongside people regardless of circumstances. It represents a microcosm of the Lebanon we believe in, a Lebanon that creates life with limited resources and never relinquishes its role as a beacon of human values.”

The visit carries a particular humanitarian significance, as Dr. Kamel Mohanna himself was directly affected by the attacks on the city of Khiam, where his home was shelled and completely destroyed on three occasions. Despite this, he continues his unwavering commitment to Amel’s mission, placing the human being and the right to health and dignity at the heart of humanitarian action, in the belief that resilience is measured not by what is destroyed, but by what is rebuilt in terms of hope, services, and life.