The Lebanese Red Cross: the strength and stability of an ever shifting Lebanon

Analysis by Jana al Hassanieh, Staff Writer & Sarah El-Abd, Editor-in-Chief

May 9th, 2020

The International Committee for the Red Cross has officially been present and active in Lebanon since 1967 and has carried out its critical humanitarian work through more historical periods of conflict, including 1975-1990 civil war. Currently, the ICRC and the Lebanese Red Cross continues to respond to the rapidly growing needs of displaced people fleeing war and violence across the region and the communities hosting them, all whilst still aiding the immediate situations and events occurring across the country. 

Ever since it has been established as a national society in 1945 and joined the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 1974, the Lebanese Red Cross has been directed by volunteers of utmost dedication to serve humanity.Hence the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) emergency medical technicians have long been our heroes, yet in the more recent cases like the Lebanese uprisings and the scorching wildfires back in October 2019, and with the latest COVID-19 lockdown, the Lebanese population have certainly been learnt to appreciate the infinite daily missions on the frontlines.

Back in the early days of October, in the days before the initiation of the revolts, Lebanon witnessed one of its worst and most severe forest fires in decades.  The forest fires burnt for hours and gathered large national attention on social media, with no official and public attention or statements from the government until hours into the fires. The government’s lack of a proactive, not to mention preventative, plan of action was heavily criticized by the citizens, as well as the country’s inability to contain the spread of the fires and ensure the security of the residents of the suffering areas. It was here amidst this chaos that the Lebanese Red Cross emerged with their potential as national heroes. 

As the uprisings began to mobilize, and the fires slowly stabilized due to foreign aid and national efforts, it is undeniable that the Lebanese Red Cross most certainly were deprived of a well-deserved break. Although the majority of the early protests and demonstrations proved relatively peaceful, with a few exceptions in certain areas or on certain days, clashes arose nevertheless, and injuries began. 

As streets were closed down or blocked by protestors amongst others, the LRC volunteers remained neutral and impartial to preserve their position as the source trusted by everybody. During the uprisings and civil protests thousands of protestors flooded the streets across Lebanon, yet the LRC volunteers stayed ethically neutral and thus gave up their voice to be the helping hand in times of need, despite their constitutional right to freedom of assembly. They were present at all times all throughout the protests, as volunteers, deploying convoys of ambulances and EMTs on the scenes, while HQ personnel and dispatchers were in the background working round the clock. The missions aimed at treating those injured at the scene and transporting many to nearby hospitals, inevitably risking their lives to save ours. Yet even more notable than so, they assisted immensely by transporting numerous children from all across Lebanon to the Children’s Cancer Center in Beirut in order to get their treatments, seeing as almost all roads were blocked for average citizens.

            As the COVID-19 Pandemic spread over the country, the already every-integral Lebanese Red Cross volunteers became even more valued in our everyday lives. After working countless shifts across the country, mainly in Central Beirut and Tripoli during the uprisings, the attention quickly had to switch to the worsening situation of the pandemic. Focus shifted, and since then they have extensively supported the main COVID-19 testing and treatment facility in country, namely the Rafic Hariri University Hospital, to boost response and bed capacity, as well as working with detaining authorities in Roumieh prison to upgrade facilities and set up isolation block for suspected and confirmed cases. It is of little surprise to know that it was in fact the Lebanese Red Cross Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team that transported the first COVID-19 suspected patient back on February 5th.

Currently the LRC has responded to and transported 1068 suspected COVID-19 cases and conducted 8936 PCR tests. In terms of technical preparedness, the Lebanese Red Cross currently has around 1315 trained emergency medical technicians from 36 stations ready to respond to COVID-19 cases, not to mention the 520 volunteers trained on awareness. 

However, in terms of emotional preparedness, the Lebanese Red Cross has volunteers more than willing to enthusiastically, professionally, and safely respond to these missions. EMS volunteers who are devoted to the motto “BEHIND THE CALL OF DUTY”. 

With open arms, these volunteers know that there is no such thing as 100% safety since risk always exists. And in the coronavirus response missions, unlike other missions, the risk does not solely affect the first responders. Unlike missions of armed conflict or mass casualty incident, the COVID-19 infection risk might not only affect the first responders’ safety, but also can be transferred to their families and friends. Yet with all the trainings, intermediate and advanced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), professionalism, and pre-emptive decisions of the LRC team, the rescuers are confident that they are in the good hands of a huge family.

They are selfless heroes day and night who sacrifice their time and rest to become part of a greater organization that they get to call family and stations that they get to call home.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers remain unified and driven by seven Fundamental Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality, under all obstacles and missions they face, including covid, uprisings, and all in between.  And as such, as several initiatives have been set up during the earlier stages of the pandemic, and even further as the economic situation deteriorated, numerous considered the Lebanese Red Cross. Baytna Baytak, for example, is a Lebanese initiative which arranges free Airbnb housing to medical workers and Lebanese Red Cross members. 

While World Red Cross day is observed on May 8 to celebrate the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement we here at The Phoenix Daily would encourage all our readers and subscribers to #keepclapping. The work by the LRC is impeccable and beyond fathomable. On this day, people pay tributes to the Red Cross volunteers for their contribution in helping those in need, and in May 2020 this has never been more critical to do.

NOBLE PROFESSIONALISM at its best!