As attacks in Lebanon intensify, thousands are being forced to flee. Critical infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, have been severely damaged. IPPF Member Association, SALAMA, which once served thousands in Beqaa, has had to shut its clinics. Despite these immense challenges, including the displacement and loss of homes for staff, Lina Sabra and her team remain dedicated to the cause. Even while displaced themselves, they continue to provide essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to local communities. In this interview, Lina reflects on her experiences, the obstacles they face, and the crucial importance of SRH services during a humanitarian crisis.
Tell me about SALAMA's work before the escalation.
We had two clinics in Beqaa providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, including postnatal care, home visits and outreach sessions in municipalities, homes, schools and orphanages. We supported about 50,000 to 60,000 people annually.
Before Lebanon’s economic crisis, 80% of our beneficiaries were Syrian refugees. But since the economic crisis, this changed to 70% Lebanese. The economic situation made private healthcare unaffordable, so people rely on us for high-quality services at a low cost. They like that our services are youth-friendly, and our staff and volunteers are trained in human rights and gender-based approaches.
Young people are crucial to our work. They don’t typically seek SRH services from private doctors, but they feel comfortable coming to our youth-friendly clinics. We work closely with youth volunteers who help in the clinics every day, collecting data, registering and conducting voluntary counselling and testing for HIV (VCT).
We always ask the beneficiaries for feedback, and we plan based on their recommendations. They love how we deal with them, how we treat them, how we communicate with them.
when
country
Lebanon
region
Arab World
Subject
Humanitarian
Related Member Association
Lebanese Association for Family Health
What is the current situation of the clinics?
Our clinics are in Beqaa, and Beqaa is under fire. One clinic’s windows were completely destroyed, the other is still standing, but we can’t go there as the area is very dangerous. We had a massacre beside the clinic, 15 people were killed.
At what point did you decide to temporarily close the clinics?
They [Israel Defense Forces] sent a message at 3 pm on the 23rd of September that they will destroy Beqaa at 5pm. I asked the staff to go home, and to be safe, and to prepare themselves for the threats of Israel. Even though we didn't believe in the message, at 4:45 pm, they started attacking Beqaa.
What happened that evening?
It was a nightmare. We spent the hardest and most difficult night of my life. It was starting at 4:45 pm until 12:10 am. We were at our home and the planes were over us, and the sounds were very loud, very scary...when we heard the terrifying sounds of missiles we ran to the same corner, all of us together and started to pray. All the family hugged, one hug together... my sister, my brother, my nephews, my nieces... we start to pray with every sound, with every rocket. They bombed a very close area, but thank God they did not reach us. The house trembled. They stopped for around four hours and then they restarted attacking Beqaa again at 5 am.
From 12:10 until 05:00 am I didn't sleep. I was looking at my watch. Each minute felt like an hour. And I was waiting and waiting until the morning. I told my sister to bring with them at least one spare clothes and their IDs. We left at around 7:30 in the morning. And I convinced my dad. My dad refused at the beginning, he refused to leave home.
Our clinics are in Beqaa, and Beqaa is under fire. One clinic’s windows were completely destroyed, the other is still standing, but we can’t go there as the area is very dangerous. We had a massacre beside the clinic, 15 people were killed.
How have staff been affected?
All staff have now fled to safer areas, but the Program Officer lost her apartment, and our Youth Representative who is President of the IPPF Arab World Regional Youth Network, lost his house and car.
During the first two weeks, I was not able to talk with anyone, neither to think or coordinate...nothing, nothing, nothing. It was very difficult. I didn't ask the staff to start working, they started themselves.
We want to help people, and this is our mission. This is our love, and this is what we love to do for our people. Because we love our country. And we will not leave it.
Are you managing to provide services while also being displaced?
In this area, they have around 15,000 IDPs (internally displaced people). They are staying in schools and homes. So, what we will be doing in our project is to serve people in the schools and door-to-door.
We can distribute UNFPA Dignity and Mama Baby Kits and reply to all their questions related to sexual and reproductive health. The midwives are providing prenatal care, and the medical doctors from the clinics are ready to offer services in Beqaa, as well as in schools, universities, and shelters.
During the first two weeks, I was not able to talk with anyone, neither to think or coordinate...nothing, nothing, nothing. It was very difficult. I didn't ask the staff to start working, they started themselves.
What are the immediate sexual reproductive health (SRH) needs of the displaced community?
For starters, they need hygiene products, pads, family planning methods, diapers for the children and counselling. They need all the services, but you cannot provide a comprehensive package of services in schools and homes.
Why is it important to consider sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) in Lebanon right now?
Some people tell us it's not the time for sexual and productive health. But the period does not stop during the conflict...and pregnant women will deliver their babies. They will not keep them until the end of the war. People will not stop their sexual lives. They will need family planning methods. They will need emergency contraceptives.
Gender-based violence also increases during a humanitarian crisis. Their mental health is destroyed. So they need psychosocial support.
Providing SRHR during the humanitarian crisis is saving lives. Because we will still have unintended pregnancies, we will still have unsafe abortions, we will still have deliveries. Not all these deliveries will be at hospitals because they are displaced, so it may not be safe for the mother and child. And we may have STIs during the humanitarian settings.
So, whatever SRHR services we are providing for people - it's to save their lives.
Some people tell us it's not the time for sexual and productive health. But the period does not stop during the conflict...and pregnant women will deliver their babies. They will not keep them until the end of the war. People will not stop their sexual lives. They will need family planning methods. They will need emergency contraceptives.
What is your message to the international community and leaders?
To look at Lebanon, to stick to human rights, and stop this nightmare.
IPPF is currently working with SALAMA to provide critical additional emergency funding.
Photo credit: Banner: IPPF/Hannah Maule-ffinch - Photos: SALAMA
by
Lina Sabra is the Executive Director of Salama, the Lebanese Association for Family Health.
