East Lebanon's largest hospital continues operations despite Israeli evacuation orders

One every half hour: this is the rate of deaths, on average, under Israeli bombings in Lebanon since Monday November 11. In total, nearly 3,500 dead and more than 15,000 injured have been counted since the start of the conflict. Hospitals are sometimes overwhelmed. In Baalbek, in the east of the country, the Israeli army has ordered the evacuation of the city and is continuing deadly bombings. The largest hospital center in the region is now in the red zone, under threat, but caregivers refuse to evacuate. A situation of extreme tension.

At Dar Al Amal hospital in Baalbek, a 3-year-old child is writhing in pain. Three days ago, Céline survived an Israeli strike in her village of Bouday. Hussein, his uncle, stands by his side: “Her parents and siblings were all killed. She has too many broken bones, she's completely traumatized and is having panic attacks.” The little one is covered in burns and bandages. Doctors were unable to save his right leg. She is still awaiting further operations, but since the beginning of the month, the Israeli army has decreed that the hospital is in an evacuation zone.

Ali Allam, the director, takes stock of this very difficult situation. “We leave it to the patients to decide. Last time, we received an Israeli order to evacuate by telephone telling us that we were close to Hezbollah interests. It's illegal, but who is there to remind them the law? he asks. In the end, there is one thing more important than our lives, and that is our humanitarian mission. So we won't leave.”

The staff explains that, since the beginning of the month, several dozen patients have arrived every day. Most are displaced, affected in areas which had not received any evacuation orders. On the top floor, Zeina takes care of the incubators for premature babies and those injured by the war: “We received a baby who was near an explosion, covered in glass on his body and face. And we also had Mariam, a baby whose skull was fractured after a strike.”

In the small room, some survive on oxygen: “We have babies who are too tired… If we ever have to leave, we won't be able to take them. We will have to take those who have a chance of survival.” At the hospital gates, victims continue to arrive. A refrigerated truck has just been transported to serve as a temporary morgue. The hospital one is full.