Beruit: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that several hospitals in Lebanon may run out of life-saving trauma medical kits within days, following a surge in mass casualties caused by large-scale Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours.
According to the WHO, trauma kits—which include essential supplies such as bandages, antibiotics, and anaesthetics—are rapidly being depleted as hospitals struggle to treat a growing number of war-related injuries.
Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, the WHO representative in Lebanon, told Reuters that medical stocks are critically low.
“Some of the trauma management supplies were in short supply and we may run out in a few days,” he said, warning that another mass casualty event could push the health system into total collapse.
“Probably we will lose more lives just because we don’t have enough supplies,” he added.
The WHO reported that recent escalations have resulted in an unprecedented consumption of medical resources, with nearly three weeks’ worth of supplies used in just one day. The majority of the injured are reported to be civilians.
Israeli airstrikes continued on Thursday following what has been described as the largest wave of attacks on Lebanon in the ongoing conflict, which reportedly killed more than 250 people and injured over 1,000 in a single day.
Beyond trauma care, the WHO also warned of looming shortages in medications for chronic illnesses, including insulin for diabetes patients. Disruptions to supply chains, regional instability, and rising transport costs—now reportedly tripling—have further worsened the crisis.
The closure of key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, has contributed to delays and increased costs in delivering medical supplies. Meanwhile, funding constraints are limiting the WHO’s emergency response capacity.
In coordination with the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the WHO is attempting to redistribute available medical supplies between hospitals to prevent total depletion.
However, officials caution that the healthcare system is now operating at its breaking point.
The United Nations estimates that more than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon since the escalation of conflict began earlier this year.