Lebanon’s hospitals prepare for surge in white phosphorus cases after Israeli attacks

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Lebanon is training medical staff at its hospitals to deal with cases linked to the use of white phosphorus as fighting between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel intensifies.

The country’s Ministry of Health said it had identified 67 exposures so far, but more are expected.

“We have conducted training sessions for all institutions across Lebanon – around 150 hospitals, with a focus on recognising symptoms, managing cases and using personal protective equipment,” Atika Berry, head of the ministry’s preventive medicine department, told The National.

Rights groups and Lebanese officials have accused Israel of using white phosphorus – a highly toxic substance that can cause fires and inflicts terrible injuries – against civilians.

It can cause respiratory damage and organ failure when inhaled, as well as extreme burns when it makes contact with the skin.

In Lebanon, all reported cases are related to respiratory problems that required the patients to receive oxygen. Some of those affected were kept in hospital for several days.

While white phosphorus can be used legally on military targets, its use against civilians is banned under the Convention on Conventional Weapons, of which Israel is not a signatory.

Armed groups led by Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, have exchanged cross-border fire with Israeli forces after the attack by the Palestinian militant group on Israel on October 7 and Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

Medical teams have also been trained to deal with the effects of “weapons of mass destruction”, including mustard gas and nerve agents, Ms Berry said.

“This will be much worse than white phosphorus,” she said, adding that no scenario is ruled out in the conflict.

Despite the Ministry of Health’s efforts, resources remain scarce in Lebanon.