UNHCR launched an appeal for urgent contributions to help give refugees access to life-saving medical care

7 Apr 2017

BEIRUT, Lebanon, 7 April 2017 (UNHCR) – Today, on the occasion of World Health Day, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) launched a regional fundraising campaign for refugees in urgent need of hospital care.

Entitled ‘No Refugee in Pain’, the campaign welcomes contributions starting from US$25 through its online platform – https://donate.unhcr.org/healthcare – to help UNHCR provide life-saving medical treatment to refugees in Lebanon. UNHCR aims to engage audiences through the hashtag #NoRefugeeInPain.

UNHCR estimates that at least 100,000 refugees will need life-saving hospitalization this year. Close to three quarters of the refugee population live under the national poverty line, and over 90 per cent of the refugees in Lebanon are in debt. Without humanitarian support, refugees will not be able to obtain the medical care they need to recover from serious illnesses.

“This year, UNHCR’s healthcare programme is critically underfunded. Without additional funds, we will not be able to provide this vital support to refugees in urgent need of medical care”, says UNHCR’s Deputy Representative in Lebanon, Ms. Karolina Lindholm Billing. “Staying healthy, and being able to quickly get medical care when needed for yourself or your family members is critically important for all of us. Most refugees depend on financial support from UNHCR and our partners to ensure their healthcare needs are met. Your contribution can therefore help save a life”, she stressed.

The costs of healthcare are among the main causes of refugees sinking deeper into debt, according to the 2016 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon, an annual study conducted by UN agencies.

“Without adequate access to healthcare, refugees could be faced with deteriorating health status and increased suffering”, says UNHCR’s Head of Public Health in Lebanon, Dr. Michael Woodman.

UNHCR is the largest supporter of hospital care for Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Through a network of 50 contracted hospitals, UNHCR covers up to 90 per cent of admission costs for emergencies and life-threatening conditions. To boost preventative care, UNHCR is joining forces with national and international partners including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, for the support of primary healthcare centres in areas hosting large numbers of refugees.

Last year, UNHCR supported more than 73,000 hospital admissions, almost one in four of which were for children under the age of five.

Funds received through the ‘No Refugee in Pain’ campaign will allow UNHCR to continue supporting people in desperate need of hospital care.

 

For more information:

Ms. Dana Sleiman, [email protected], Tel. +961 71 910 626

Ms. Lisa Abou Khaled, [email protected], Tel. +961 71 880 070