On the afternoon of 17 September, despite the chaos that ensued following the explosion of pagers that resulted in over 3000 severe injuries, emergency rooms in Beirut’s hospitals functioned seamlessly.

About 2800 victims were transported to medical facilities as the Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC) coordinated the response efforts at a time when there was no clear understanding of what had happened.

In emergencies, PHEOC plays a central role in assessing the requirements of the injured and determining the most suitable hospitals for their care. Hospitals were mapped by district, with volunteers verifying available beds and the status of injuries through direct calls and a dedicated WhatsApp group.