Dental Mission to Serve the Syrian Refugee Children in Lebanon

October 2022

The University at Buffalo Miles for Smiles program is a bi-annual mission aimed at delivering free dental care and education to Syrian refugees. Under the leadership of Dr. Othman Shibly, Miles for Smiles is training volunteers and teachers at refugee camps in Lebanon to perform basic education and oral health care.

Since the Syrian crisis began in 2011 Miles for Smiles has provided treatment for thousands of Refugees through the medical mission in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon.

Dr. Dilshad Sumar- Lakhani, a board member for Miles for Smiles Organization went on a humanitarian mission to Beirut, Lebanon. This is her second trip to Beirut. The humanitarian mission took place Oct. 6-14. 20 volunteers from across the United States, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria participated in this program. We provided care to more than a 1000 children in low-income families at three schools in Lebanon, as well as children at three Syrian refugee camps in the country.

These beautiful children stood in line to get their dental work without any complaints. It was heartwarming to see these children who lived in tents and had just the basic necessity in life were laughing and cooperative. This made our work easier.

Here are some photos of our team, how we worked in the school and some housing of the refugees.