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Anger in Beirut at Government Negligence and Ignored Advance Warnings

The explosion has crippled an already troubled nation---worst of all, Lebanon was warned.
TOPSHOT-LEBANON-BLAST

The explosion at a warehouse in Beirut, Lebanon, killing at least 137 people with over 5,000 reported injuries and near unheard-of infrastructure damage, leading to a crisis with over 300,000 civilians homeless, has ignited international curiosity and rage. Lebanon, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, has teetered towards collapse as an angered population has sought change. During 2019 protests rage filled the streets as demonstrators demanded a change in the corrupt sectarian government and stagnant economy.

These trends have continued into 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the economic suffering of the Lebanese people. Due to their reliance on imports, imposed lockdowns to combat the spread of the virus, and the rise of prices worldwide, Lebanon is the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to have its inflation rate exceed 50% for 30 consecutive days. As the middle-class has eroded in Lebanon, many critique the wealthy oligarchs that stand to gain from the economic suffering, “The national debt stands at one and a half times the country’s national income and the government’s budget deficit was just shy of 10 per cent of GDP last year,” writes The IndependentEven before the explosion, Lebanon was on the brink of collapse.

The explosion destroyed the international port in Beirut, which was vital for its imports, “Up to 70 percent of Lebanon’s trade channels through the port of Beirut,” said Charbel Cordahil, a top economist and financial advisor in Lebanon’s government. Without international support, “Lebanon cannot face this disaster.” said Cordahil. The economic damage is nearly unprecedented, with an estimated cost of repair of around $15 billion. Not to mention, the decimation of vital grain supply in the region.

The explosion was caused by 2,750 metric tons of explosive ammonium nitrate, the agricultural fertilizer had been stored without safety precautions since 2013. The ammonium nitrate, allegedly, belonged to a Russian vessel owned by businessman, Igor Grechushkin. According to documents obtained by Al-Jazeera, Lebanese customs had sent six letters to the Beirut Urgent Matters Judge between 2014 and 2017, which were ignored, demanding the dangerous material be moved.

The Lebanese government had direct knowledge that the materials could cause severe harm. “The State Security Agency prepared a report in December 2019, in which it spoke of a real danger arising from these materials,” according to Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar. The government of Lebanon was explicitly made aware 6 months that the material could “blow up all of Beirut,” according to a source quoted by Reuters. Ultimately, despite warnings, the government failed to act leading to a catastrophic tragedy amidst a country already struggling towards economic collapse.

The port in Beirut, which is where the explosion occurred, is thought by both U.S. and Israeli officials to be controlled by Hezbollah. While unconfirmed and rumored, it is possible that the ammonium nitrate was kept for use by Hezbollah and the militia for potential use abroad.

“Hezbollah are in charge of the Port and the Warehouse where the ammonium nitrate was stored,” Bahaa Hariri, opposition leader and son of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri said. “Nothing goes in and out of the Port or the Airport does so with them knowing. Nothing.”

In a similar statement Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon issued a warning to the body last year, “’The Port of Beirut is now the Port of Hezbollah.” The newly formed government of Lebanon is backed by Hezbollah and its allies.

As civilians have criticized the corruption and incompetent ruling class; French President Emmanuel Macron, arrived in the country speaking with civilians, seeking to promote the a reformed Lebanon.

As Macron walked the streets of Beirut, civilians chanted “down with the regime” along with “revolution, revolution” among other insults directed at the government, who they believe are complicit in the explosion.

Civilians pleaded to Macron, asking the leader for help, warning the president to not send money to the corrupt regime. “I’m not here to help them, I’m here to help you,” Macron responded. Lebanese officials have yet to visit the site of the bombing.

Macron, taking a tough position on a former French mandate and a key country in the Francophonie, called for a significant overhaul of the government, and that reforms were especially needed as the country continues its struggle. “I will propose a new political pact in Lebanon, and I will be back in September,” said Macron to an angry grieving crowd, “and if they can’t do it, I’ll take my political responsibility.”

As civilians have grown to detest their own government, a petition has circulated, in which over 54,000 people have called for the restoration of the French mandate over Lebanon due to wide-spread corruption and mismanagement. The founder of the petition, under the alias, Cy N writes, “With a failing system, corruption, terrorism and militia the country just reached its last breath.”

The petition has been widely circulated on Lebanese social media. “That’s how desperate some Lebanese are,” Dima Tarhini lead anchor on DW’s Arabic news service said, “So much has been lost from where there was already so little. They lost their homes, they lost their properties, they cannot save their children. They don’t know what to do.”

On Wednesday, one of the top-trending hash-tags on Twitter in Lebanon was  #علقوا_المشانق, or “hang up the nooses,” suggesting to hold the government accountable, by violent means.

In response, the government of Lebanon have established a two-week state of emergency period along with an investigation into the matter. Outside international organizations and politicians have called for an independent investigation into the explosion due to Lebanon’s overall mismanagement.

Lebanon’s President Michael Aoun stated that those involved would face “the most severe penalties.” Several port officials are under arrest by the government, despite the government itself having had knowledge of the dangerous contents of the warehouse for several years.

The story of the explosion of the warehouse in Beirut, is one in which severe incompetence and potential corruption by the government led to the tragic loss of lives and immense destruction, in what was a bright-spot in an otherwise troubled country.

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