The health and living crisis inside Lebanon's Roumieh prison has worsened, putting the lives of hundreds of detainees, particularly those detained during the Syrian revolution, in immediate danger due to the spread of epidemics and poor medical care, amid official neglect and a continued media blackout.
Inmates at Lebanon's largest prison face dire conditions, lacking even the most basic necessities of life, from food and clean water to personal hygiene. This neglect has led to the spread of skin and infectious diseases, most notably scabies, believed to be caused by rats found in the water tank.
The head of the Lebanese Doctors Syndicate, Dr. Sharaf Abu Sharaf, told local media that 90% of scabies cases have been treated, noting that only four doctors are responsible for caring for approximately 4,500 prisoners, for a period not exceeding four hours per day.
However, the testimony of one detainee, who requested anonymity for security reasons, revealed a darker reality. He noted that there is only one doctor covering several buildings within the prison, each housing between 900 and 1,200 prisoners. Clinics are often empty of doctors, amid a severe shortage of medicine and equipment.
The source confirmed that prisoners with serious illnesses often die before the doctor arrives, and even if he does arrive, he is unable to provide the required treatment. Medication is only provided at the prisoner's expense, and if hospitalization is required, payment must be made first.
According to the same source, the delays of ambulances, some of which are more than fifty years old, cause many deaths. In 2024 alone, 21 prisoners of various nationalities died as a result of medical negligence.
He added that the environment inside the prison contributes to the spread of disease, with polluted water, stagnant air, and a sanitation system that relies on the efforts of the prisoners themselves, who are paid a monthly wage. Severe overcrowding and poor sanitation have also contributed to the spread of skin and chronic diseases, such as eczema, fungal infections, hemorrhoids, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, without treatment.
A recent Human Rights Watch report confirmed that prison conditions in Lebanon are deteriorating significantly amid the economic crisis, with overcrowding becoming the norm and healthcare at a low ebb. The report revealed that Roumieh Prison, designed for 1,200 prisoners, currently houses more than 4,000 inmates, while approximately 80% of Lebanon's prisoners are detained without trial.
Amid this disastrous reality, the lives of Syrian revolution detainees inside Roumieh Prison remain in limbo, with no effective pressure from official bodies or human rights organizations to improve their conditions or demand their release. This continued silence, according to observers, not only reflects a disregard for human rights but also amounts to implicit complicity in the suffering of hundreds of innocent people behind bars.
Fares Al-Rifai - Zaman Al-Wasl
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