A dedicated group of volunteer physicians, in collaboration with the Islamic Health Authority, is delivering a comprehensive medical and treatment program for displaced persons in Beirut. This initiative has been described by its organizers as a form of "medical jihad," complementing the efforts of those on the front lines.
Dr. Hassan Metirek, a volunteer physician, explained that the group operates entirely on a voluntary basis. The primary objective is to provide medical support to the families of those engaged in conflict and to serve displaced communities who face significant barriers in accessing appropriate healthcare, often due to overcrowded hospitals.
He emphasized that this work constitutes a "medical mobilization" aimed at securing the best possible healthcare for the displaced, a service worthy of their resilience and sacrifices. Services are centralized at a dispensary within a shelter center, which receives between sixty to seventy patients daily from the local and neighboring areas, such as Al-Nabaa. The medical team provides free examinations, appropriate diagnoses, and distributes medication at no cost in an effort to alleviate both the financial and health burdens on these communities.
Dr. Metirek views this medical effort as an integral part of the broader fabric of societal resilience. He sees the roles of those on the front lines, doctors and paramedics on the home front, and the steadfast displaced population as complementary, expressing hope that this collective effort is a step towards ultimate victory. He concluded with a prayer that their work be counted among their good deeds, expressing pride in the 27 volunteer doctors who have joined this humanitarian initiative and reaffirming their commitment to serving their people during these difficult times.
For her part, Zeinab Al-Fitrouni, the official in charge of the Al-Ruwaysat center in Mount Lebanon, confirmed that amid Lebanon's ongoing displacement crisis, voluntary medical initiatives have emerged to secure healthcare for the displaced. Teams of volunteer doctors are working within shelter centers and dispensaries to provide free medical services, attempting to address gaps in the healthcare sector.
She affirmed that their work is entirely voluntary, aiming to support displaced individuals who struggle to access hospitals or afford treatment costs. These efforts, she noted, are intended to "protect the families and provide care worthy of them." Medical teams in some centers receive between 60 and 70 patients daily, providing free medical examinations, medication, and essential follow-up healthcare services.