Interview results with municipalities

This study aimed to document the range of preparedness/reactivity of municipalities as COVID-19 swept through Lebanon. A qualitative case study was implemented to explore municipal response to control the epidemic, using in-depth semi-structured interviews with twenty-seven stakeholders from nine municipalities across all governorates in Lebanon. Our results showed that the response to the pandemic differed significantly in volume and nature among different municipalities across regions, with rural areas clearly disadvantaged in terms of adequacy and completeness of response. Barriers consistently mentioned by most municipalities included economic collapse and poverty, shortage in resources, lack of support from the central government, stigma, lack of awareness, underreporting, flaws in the MOPH surveillance system, impeded accessibility to healthcare services, limited number, and weak role of municipal police, increased mental illnesses, and political patronage, favoritism, and interference. On the other hand, increased donations, community engagement, social support and empathy, sufficient human resources, the effective role of healthcare systems, and good governance were identified as key facilitators. Thus, It is crucial meanwhile that the central government strengthens the administrative and financial resources of municipalities in preparing and rapidly deploying the expected optimal response.本研究旨在记录新冠疫情席卷黎巴嫩期间，各市政当局的应急准备与响应能力范围。本研究采用质性案例研究方法，通过对黎巴嫩全国所有省份9个市政当局的27名利益相关方开展深入半结构化访谈，探讨市政当局为控制疫情所采取的应对举措。研究结果显示，黎巴嫩不同区域的市政当局在疫情应对的规模与性质上均存在显著差异，农村地区在应对举措的充分性与完备性层面明显处于劣势。多数市政当局反复提及的阻碍因素包括：经济崩溃与贫困、资源短缺、中央政府支持不足、污名化现象、公众认知匮乏、疫情漏报、公共卫生部（Ministry of Public Health, MOPH）监测系统存在缺陷、医疗服务可及性受阻、市政警察数量有限且履职乏力、精神疾病患病率上升，以及政治庇护、偏袒与政治干预。另一方面，社会捐赠增加、社区参与度提升、社会支持与共情氛围浓厚、人力资源充足、医疗系统履职有效以及治理成效良好，被认定为疫情应对的关键助力因素。因此，中央政府亟需强化市政当局的行政与财政资源储备，以助力其筹备并快速落实最优疫情应对方案。