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Former Lebanese PM highlights civilian toll in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

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Former Lebanese PM highlights civilian toll in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

2025-03-15 16:40 Last Updated At:03-16 16:07

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab highlighted that the majority of victims of Israeli attacks in Lebanon were ordinary citizens, including women, children, and the elderly, during an interview with China Media Group (CMG).

Diab pointed to the tough conditions Lebanon is enduring in the wake of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and called for an urgent resolution to the Palestinian and Middle East issues

Israel was reportedly behind the pager explosions across Lebanon in September last year. Later, it launched air and ground strikes against Lebanon, resulting in the death of Hezbollah's former leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The two sides reached a ceasefire agreement more than two months later.

"The conditions in Lebanon have been very tough. And of course, I stayed in Beirut during that time, and the southern part of Beirut, Dahieh, was almost completely destroyed, as you saw from the pictures. And for the first time, the center of Beirut was hit multiple times. From my understanding, 99.9 percent of the victims are simply citizens—children, women, old people—normal people that have nothing to do with the conflict. So this is why I said, after almost eight decades of conflict, a solution has to be found for the Middle East, the Palestinian issue," said Diab.

He described the Israeli bombings as an "unprecedented war," revealing that he had lost many friends in the attacks.

"Absolutely, many friends that I have in different sectors have been affected. I mean, homes destroyed, injured, some actually killed in this conflict. So, it touches every Lebanese home. I think this unprecedented war," Diab said.

Diab said that the unending cycles of war and ceasefire have eroded his optimism about the future. He called on the international community to treat Lebanon fairly and take decisive action to bring the conflict to a lasting end.

"Well, I've always been optimistic in my life, but previous cycles of violence, and ceasefires, and wars, we may face another round of, I hope not. But I don't feel that Lebanon is being fairly treated in the sense that this conflict has deeply affected Lebanon and that international players should put an end to this once and for all," he said.

The economic impact of the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict on Lebanon amounts to 14 billion U.S. dollars, with reconstruction and recovery costs estimated at an additional 11 billion U.S. dollars, according to a World Bank report.

Former Lebanese PM highlights civilian toll in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Former Lebanese PM highlights civilian toll in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Former Lebanese PM highlights civilian toll in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Former Lebanese PM highlights civilian toll in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

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China sends 11th group of medical experts to Ethiopia

2025-05-17 22:01 Last Updated At:22:37

A Chinese medical team left China on Saturday heading for Ethiopia, where they will offer technological assistance and support to talent development in the country's healthcare sector over the next 12 months.

The 14-member team includes experts in clinical medicine, medical technology, hospital administration, and logistical support.

Mainly selected from the First Hospital Affiliated to the Army Medical University (AMU) in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, the team members possess extensive experience in medical practice and management.

During the mission, the experts will help the country's military hospitals to enhance medical service capacity, promote the application of new technologies, strengthen hospital operations, train professional personnel, and support the establishment of healthcare management systems, thereby contributing to the improvement of local medical services.

"I feel deeply honored by this mission, and I'm fully aware of the responsibility it carries. We are committed to carrying forward the spirit of China's overseas medical teams, which features tenacity, dedication, commitment to saving lives, and love that knows no borders, and will apply our skills for the benefit of the Ethiopian military and civilians," said team member Guo Hao from the AMU.

Since 2015, the AMU hospital has dispatched 11 batches totaling more than 100 medical experts to Ethiopia.

Their efforts gave strong support to achieving notable progress in medical facility construction, and technological and talent development in the country's healthcare sector.

China sends 11th group of medical experts to Ethiopia

China sends 11th group of medical experts to Ethiopia

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