Monday, Aug 08, 2016

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has criticised Hezbollah’s decision to close down the Shaikh Khalifa Hospital in South Lebanon and called on the Lebanese government to exert more efforts to reopen the hospital.

According to Arabic news websites, the UAE expressed its regret over the non-cooperation by Lebanese official authorities with its efforts in restoring the hospital’s operation.

The Dh77 million hospital, equipped with the latest medical equipment is located between the towns of Shebaa and Al Habbaria in South Lebanon. The closure of the hospital has deprived residents in the two towns and nearby areas from accessing medical services provided by the hospital.

The hospital was built in response to humanitarian calls by the Lebanese government and international organisations to offer humanitarian and medical assistance to Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees. The UAE reaffirmed its humanitarian strategy to continue helping the Lebanese people and refugees. The management of the UAE programme to support Lebanon had earlier announced the completion of the hospital’s construction and installation of medical equipment.

Abdullah Khalifa Al Gafli, Deputy Director of the Programme, said the hospital building was delivered by an executive company and was recently about to start offering its services.

“The Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital is a testament of the UAE’s ongoing support for Lebanon and rebuilding it. It follows a series of achievements made by the UAE in the areas of humanitarian initiatives, demining and reconstruction,” said Al Gafli.

The four-storey medical facility extends over an area of 12,590 square metres and has the capacity to serve 35,000 Lebanese citizens in the area. The 40-bed hospital comprises different medical sections such as emergency department, radiology, laboratories, intensive care unit and operation rooms.

Staff Report

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