A group of NGOs called on the Lebanese government to provide tests for the examination of the coronavirus, medication, treatment, and confinement for all for free and without discrimination based on gender, marital status, nationality, ethnic origin, color, sexual orientation, age, disability, or creed, as well as securing medical devices and supplies in all Lebanese regions in a fair way.
In a joint statement, 27 associations stressed the need to ensure that all marginalized groups, especially persons with disabilities, have access to health care, ensure that technical and administrative measures are taken to facilitate their access to services, and include standards that allow the adoption of an adaptive service package in relation with the diversity and quality of the needs required arising from degrees of disability.
Associations affirmed that all refugees, IDPs and migrant workers present in Lebanon should be included in health plans put to contain the pandemic or to treat and prevent layoffs and reduce wages for workers and employees who are still in their jobs, to prevent any form of discrimination based on dismissal, and the government to pay the salaries and benefits of its contracted workers in the ministries, of all groups, as well as with regard to municipalities.
It also called for the launch of a comprehensive unconditional financial assistance program for groups that have lost their jobs and sources of income, including the families of the missing and the kidnapped, and persons with disabilities who do not work and have no other source of livelihood, and to freeze the payment of taxes, fees and payment of debts for a period of 6 months based on clear and unified instructions as well as to prevent confiscation of small enterprise materials and tools for persons with disabilities due to taxes.
The organizations and research centers that signed on to the statement also called for other social and development measures, stressing that they will play their role in monitoring the performance of the government and all parties involved in the crisis. They also stressed the necessity of initiating redistributive measures and deductions from the owners of wealth and business sectors that have accumulated imaginary profits over the years.
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