November 15th, 2016 ― Doha: This year, there are more than 5.5 war refugees with diabetes. However, humanitarian organizations pay little attention to this chronic disease for several considerations, mainly giving priority to urgent medical care over medium-term and long-term preventive programs. "To change this painful reality," said Omar Katerji, Head of Qatar Red Crescent Society's (QRCS) Mission in Lebanon, "We have launched an integrated program in partnership with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) to cover 2,000 diabetic Syrians in Lebanon, through nine centers in four governorates. This is the most largest-scale initiative in Lebanon". According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, one in every 11 people in the world is diabetic. Diabetes prevalence rates have increased by 390% since 1980. Dr. Fadi Al-Halabi, Medical Coordinator of QRCS Mission in Lebanon, revealed that the initial results after two months of the project are as follows: 89% patients have unstable diabetes, 61% have hypertension, 71% do not exercise adequately, 51% do not follow a proper diet, and 41% have current cardiac disorders. He noted, "The project offers medical consultations and treatment, including all types of insulin and lab examinations for diabetes, as well as follow-up of developments, all for free". Dr. Ibrahim Al-Masri, Medical Coordinator of SAMS and Health Program Manager at Multi Aid Programs (MAPs), stated, "The project will hire specialist staff from MAPs, with training from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) – MENA Region. It will also make research and reports to change the lifestyle of patients, who exceed 100,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon, according to WHO's MENA prevalence rates".