Highlights & Selected Articles

• Environment (14/57 articles) highlighted policymaker, Michel Faroun, stating that the Ministerial Committee on waste management is reconsidering the option of incinerators as a solution to the ongoing waste management crisis. Other articles shed light on the Minister of Environment, Tarek Al Khatib, launched the hunting season in a press conference. Al Khatib is working on organizing the hunting hobby stating that hunting without a license is forbidden. Some articles related to climate change, among other environmental issues.
• Refugees (7/57 articles) compiled articles related to the Brussels Conference “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region”. One article shed light on growing hostility between Syrian refugees and poor Lebanese host communities in remote areas in Lebanon.
• Food Safety (7/57 articles) informed food poisoning cases happening at Hikmeh High School. The Ministry of Public Health and the school’s management are investigating the incident.
• Ministry of Public Health (5/57 articles) covered different activities by Minister, Ghassan Hasbani. The minister visited Bekaa area and stated that the government will form a technical committee to identify the area’s priorities and coordinate necessary services in the area.

• Sexual Abuse (3/57 articles) reported on a case of harassment of a young girl by a taxi driver in Sidon. One article highlighted the issue of wartime rape and how it used to be dealt with as an unfortunate or sad situation throughout history.
• Road Safety (3/57 articles) reported on a National Campaign aiming at enhancing the Safety of school transportation. Other articles highlighted traffic law violations and car accidents.
• Pharmaceuticals (3/57 articles) reported on Internal Security Forces arresting a pharmacist and two others for selling smuggled and expired pharmaceutical drugs. One article highlighted “Cytotec”, a drug that is being used for abortion purposes, and how it is sometimes leading to death.
• Other (6/57 articles) compiled different public health articles among them, spring allergies and how to avoid it. One article discussed the issue of cultured meat whilst another article reported on an ice-cream factory in Lebanon that is employing kids.

• Mental Health (3/57 articles) highlighted a report by the World Health Organization stating that depression is affecting more than 300 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of poor health and disability.
• Cancer (3/57 articles) informed about the renewal of a collaboration between MD Anderson and Naef Bassil Cancer Institute on connecting through research to increase knowledge in cancer research, and to further collaborate on clinical research on cancer and to have a positive impact on patient care
• Water (2/57 articles) reported on Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Authorities stating that studies conducted in the last two months of last year's November and December showed that "water was clean and free of contamination."
• NSSF (1/57 articles) covered issues related to financial challenges faced by the National Social Security Fund.
• Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (1/57 articles) shed light Knowledge Is Power (KIP) two-day conference on issues related to gender equality in Lebanon. During the first session on policy and sexual harassment, MP Ghassan Moukheiber detailed the draft law he submitted that would further women’s rights in Lebanon.
• Child Marriage (1/57 articles) reported on a draft law that would prohibit underage marriage in Lebanon.