BEIRUT: Prime Minister Najib Mikati promised Monday after touring the Deir al-Salib psychiatric hospital that his government would support charitable organizations, adding that the work of civil society organizations compliments that of the government.

“I assure you that the government will not fail to [fulfill its obligations] and will always stand by your side in the charitable work you are doing whether in the form of hospitals or other forms across Lebanon” said the prime minister, addressing the hospital staff at Deir al-Salib.

“We hope that we can provide more, but you know that there are so many demands,” Mikati said.

The prime minister toured the hospital with Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil and Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour along with Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, who invited Mikati to the facility.

The four held a meeting with Mother Marie Makhlouf, the head of Rahibat al-Salib Association and were briefed on the needs of the facility.

The prime minister also said that the work of state institutions complements that of civil society organizations in serving people.

For her part, Makhlouf said that “a severe financial crisis is negatively affecting our capability to provide the services which we want, but it will not prevent us from continuing to receive people and take care of them without discrimination.”