Lebanon steps up action to reduce deaths by drowning
11 August 2025, Batroun, Lebanon – On 31 July, Lebanon officially launched the National Drowning Prevention Awareness Campaign, a joint initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health. The launch event, held at the Marine Sciences and Technology Institute (MARSATI) in Batroun, brought together government officials, public health experts, civil society representatives and other key stakeholders.
Drowning, often referred to by WHO as a silent epidemic, claims more than 300 000 lives globally each year, including over 35 000 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Lebanon has already recorded more than 40 drowning-related deaths in 2025 – a reminder of the urgent need for coordinated national action.
» Full storyWHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy concludes a visit to Lebanon and calls for urgent investment in health
4 August 2025, Beirut, Lebanon – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy has concluded a 3-day – from 23 to 25 July 2025 – official visit to Lebanon. Dr Balkhy met with national authorities, health workers, civil society actors and international partners and witnessed firsthand the profound challenges facing the Lebanese health system.
At the heart of the mission was a call for increased domestic and international investment in health as Lebanon navigates multiple overlapping crises, including economic collapse, protracted conflict and one of the highest refugee burdens per capita globally.
» Full story
Lebanon steps up action to reduce deaths by drowning
WHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy concludes a visit to Lebanon and calls for urgent investment in health
