Father Dr. Najeeb Baklini, head of the Association (Justice and Mercy), confirmed the increase in COVID-19 cases inside Roumieh Prison.
The National News Agency reported that Father Baklini clarified the rise in COVID-19 cases, particularly in the juvenile buildings and building "D," while noting that there have been no cases at all in the buildings for sentenced inmates and building "B." He expressed gratitude to the World Health Organization for its diligent efforts in treating the infected and monitoring their health condition. The agency added that the Justice and Mercy Association had distributed boxes containing sterilization tools and cleaning supplies to a number of forgotten and abandoned prisoners, who cannot secure these materials from their families before the general lockdown.
Father Baklini thanked the health committees formed by the security forces and others for their efforts to address the health conditions of the prisons, calling for attention to the conditions of prisons and prisoners alike, in order to alleviate their suffering and provide a healthy environment that reduces the spread of the pandemic. He urged officials to expedite the implementation of possible solutions in these difficult and critical circumstances facing the world, especially in Lebanon, which is suffering the harshest and most dangerous conditions due to the political crisis that has led to economic and living collapse. Father Baklini also called for vaccinations for security personnel and all prisoners to protect them from the virus, especially in light of the lack of adequate and sustainable preventive measures inside the prisons, highlighting the deteriorating environmental conditions that prisoners are subjected to.
