The August 4 Beirut Blast, Report #4
A picture of the havoc the explosion caused. Aug 13, 2020, photo credit: Business Insider
Brief Overview
It has been over a month since the drastic explosion, and the country is still agonizing to know the truth. Local and international investigation teams were dispatched to the site to uncover the real reason behind the incident and to this very moment, nothing has been revealed. So far, it has been deemed as an ‘accident’ in which a not-so-easily flammable material was mysteriously set ablaze. To make things even more baffling, and 40 days after the explosion, a fire broke out at the port, burning a part of ICRC's stock of food parcels.[1] Without jumping into conspiracy theories, which entails major players in the region, one can easily point out the absurdity of the situation. Nearly 200 lives have perished, 300,000 thousand were left homeless, and millions of dollars of property damage, and still nothing has been revealed. Despite the many corruption-related allegations against those that run the Beirut port, none has been put behind bars, fearing a major political backlash. In short, maybe the truth is out there, yet is being concealed to preserve the fragile peace in Lebanon.
Nevertheless, this is no time for political expediency as the country is severely deteriorating and the corrupt remains unchecked. The explosion is not only a catastrophe but also a symbol of negligence and laxity the country has been facing for over 25 years. As such, holding someone accountable to the havoc that ensued is what the country needs. Who knows what other ticking time bombs exist in Lebanon?
[1] OCHA, Sept 10, 2020, mhttps://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/icrc-stock-caught-beirut-port-fire
Humanitarian Aid
Arche Nova, a German NGO, distributing 1000 kits to those affected in Karantina, September 8, 2020, photo credit Arche Nova website
Luckily, local and international NGOs continued throughout September to aid those that had been affected. As of 10 September, over 1,600 persons have been identified as in need of specific attention and their situations have been referred to programs funded by UNHCR and other agencies offering: mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS); individual support; emergency cash assistance (ECA); services for persons with specific needs, such as persons living with disabilities; individual rehabilitation services; and legal aid. Moreover, 6,554 kits have been provided to meet immediate and urgent needs by the UNHCR and its partners. The UN agency also plans on distributing cash between 600 and 4500 USD to 15,600 households, depending on immediate needs. [2] Similarly, the NGO Arche Nova distributed 1.000 hygiene packages in the Karantina district, as part of its emergency aid after the explosion.[3]
Other contributions also poured into Lebanon. 5,000 disaster health kits are currently being distributed by Project HOPE in coordination with the René Moawad Foundation.[4] Also, the Greek Government dispatched over 500 pallets with hundreds of tons of necessities, food, medicines, medical goods and building materials.[5]
[2] OCHA, Sept. 14, 2020, https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/unhcr-flash-update-lebanon-beirut-port-explosions-11-september-2020
[3] Arche Nova, September 8, 2020, https://arche-nova.org/en/news/help-women-beirut
[4] http://www.projecthope.org/
[5]OCHA, Sept. 12, 2020, https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/announcement-dispatch-humanitarian-aid-lebanon-11-september-2020