Forty shipments of medicine sent to Lebanon by Türkiye’s Ministry of Health were handed over to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health at a ceremony held at the Port of Beirut.
Türkiye’s chargé d’affaires in Beirut, Tolga Budaç, military attaché Erdinç Durmaz, education counselor Celal Turgut Koç, and Lebanon’s Director General of Health, Wiam Abu Hamdan, attended the ceremony.
Türkiye’s humanitarian aid support for Lebanon
Budaç said the medicine shipments were a tangible example of the friendship and solidarity between Türkiye and Lebanon. He expressed hope that the aid would help meet the needs of the health sector and reach citizens awaiting medicine.
Noting that Türkiye attaches importance to standing by Lebanon during difficult periods, Budaç said the medicine aid was a continuation of previous humanitarian support.
Budaç announced that 7,200 tents, more than 10,000 food parcels, more than 28,000 blankets and 1,000 personal hygiene kits had previously been delivered to Lebanon. He also said civil society organizations were continuing their aid efforts.
Stressing that humanitarian aid is not limited to meeting basic needs, Budaç said access to health services and the provision of necessary medicines were also important parts of solidarity. He thanked the institutions that contributed to preparing, delivering and distributing the aid to those in need.
Budaç said relations between Türkiye and Lebanon were based on historical and humanitarian ties between the two countries and their peoples, adding that mutual solidarity and cooperation would further strengthen those relations. He said Türkiye would continue to stand in solidarity with Lebanon in different areas.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry expresses thanks
Abu Hamdan thanked Türkiye for the medical and humanitarian aid sent to Lebanon. He said the aid was not merely support but also a demonstration of the friendship and solidarity between the two countries.
Abu Hamdan said the aid showed that Türkiye was standing by the Lebanese people, particularly under difficult conditions, and would directly contribute to the health sector’s capacity to meet citizens’ needs.
Humanitarian situation in Lebanon
According to an update published in April by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, rising conflict and displacement since March 2026 have pushed approximately one-quarter of Lebanon’s population into levels of acute food insecurity.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israel’s attacks since March 2 have killed 4,346 people and injured 12,301, while more than 1 million people have been displaced. The country has also suffered extensive material damage.
The classification prepared by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme said the deterioration was driven by the resumption of conflict, displacement, ongoing economic pressures, rising food prices and declining purchasing power.
Lebanon’s economy has been experiencing a severe crisis since late 2019, with the economy contracting by approximately 40%, the Lebanese pound losing 98% of its value and inflation reaching unprecedented levels.
