An official delegation from Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has arrived in Beirut, Lebanon, aboard the latest Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) aircraft, deployed with a new shipment of humanitarian aid from QRCS, as part of the Qatari airlift in support of the people affected by the recent military escalation in Lebanon.

QRCS's delegation comprises Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, Director of Relief and International Programs Division, Mohamed Ahmed Al-Bishri, Director of Communication and Fundraising Division, and a specialist relief team to supervise aid processing.

Upon their arrival, the delegation met Mohamed Kahil, acting head of QRCS's office in Lebanon, Nasser Al-Qahtani, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Qatar in Lebanon, Dr. Nabil Itani from the Lebanese Red Cross, and Hisham Fawaz, Advisor to Lebanon's Minister of Public Health.

They finalized all customs clearing procedures for the shipment, which included 42 tons of medications, medical supplies, and equipment, which will be delivered to the hospitals of Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the Lebanese Red Cross, the two strategic partners in QRCS's relief and development activities for refugees and the host community.

Together with Mr. Kahil, the delegation visited Georges Kettaneh, Secretary-General of the Lebanese Red Cross. They emphasized QRCS's full support for their bilateral strategic partnership, especially in relation to the ongoing emergency response.

Another meeting was held with HE Dr. Firass Abiad, Minister of Public Health. It discussed QRCS's current key emergency interventions, as well as the projects jointly implemented with MOPH. During the meeting, Dr. Abiad valued QRCS's continuous support, through its representation office there, to meet the existing needs across the country.

Then, the delegation visited Lebanon's Government Palace to meet HE Dr. Nasser Yassin, Coordinator of the Government Emergency Committee. The meeting discussed the most urgent needs to be met by QRCS and the Lebanese Red Cross.

From Day 1, QRCS responded to the critical humanitarian situation in Lebanon, by allocating QR 1 million from its Disaster Response Fund for the initial emergency intervention, to provide food and nonfood items for 1,000 displaced families.

Together with HE Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's Ambassador to Lebanon, and senior Lebanese government officials, QRCS's personnel in Lebanon received HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al-Khater, Minister of State for International Cooperation, during her visit to Lebanon to inaugurate the Qatari humanitarian airlift.

Over the past weeks, the team took handover of several Qatari relief shipments deployed via Qatar's airlift to Beirut, with medical, food, and shelter aid to support the urgent needs of the people of Lebanon, amid the country's difficult humanitarian situation.

Under phase 1 of its emergency response in Lebanon, QRCS and the Lebanese Red Cross distributed blankets, mattresses, food, hygiene supplies, and drinking water to 5,675 displaced and affected people in Aley, Chouf, and other districts of Mount Lebanon.

At the same time, preparations are in progress to launch phase 3 of the emergency response, at a cost of QR 5 million. It will involve distributing diverse food parcels and securing potable water for 27,500 affected families.

These interventions are in line with the essential needs identified in the emergency appeal co-issued by the Lebanese Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).​