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Knocked down time and again, Lebanon looks for reform-minded rebuild

BEIRUT (NEWS 1130) – Just more than a week after a deadly explosion wiped out the port of Beirut and destroyed much of the surrounding area, Lebanon continues to mend its wounds.

The explosion on Tuesday, Aug. 4 marked the culmination of years of struggle between the Lebanese people and a government they increasingly grew more wary of.

At least 171 people were killed in the massive blast, which also left thousands hurt and made more than 300,000 people homeless in a matter of minutes.

A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city’s port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. At least 160 people were killed and thousands were injured, with bodies buried in the rubble, officials said. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

It came at a tumultuous time for the country, which, like almost every other nation around the world, was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Lebanon had also been dealing with a severe economic crisis, lasting months and sending the country’s currency plummeting in value.

People were already hungry, barely able to afford staple food items. After the blast, many lost whatever it was that they had left.

A country wanting change

The explosion is believed to have been caused by a fire at the Port of Beirut which ultimately sparked thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate which had been irresponsibly stored in a warehouse since 2013.

It’s widely reported the Lebanese government knew about the dangerous stockpile of extremely explosive materials for years, with port officials having raised concerns about the warehouse, all of which fell on deaf ears.

However, Tuesday’s explosion sparked renewed calls for change in Lebanon, which has been marred by conflicts, both internal and with Israel, deadly protests, and wars in recent decades.

People have been taking to the streets to express their outrage with the government and its handling of everything from the economy to the stored ammonium nitrate, which many have said was a clear example leaders’ neglect and mismanagement of the country.

On Monday, the prime minister and his cabinet resigned, with Hassan Diab saying he had come to the conclusion that corruption in Lebanon was “bigger than the state.”

However, the people want to see even more change. But there are concerns about who would replace the current government, as those in power have been around for so long that finding someone credible enough and who isn’t linked to any of the standing political parties will prove to be difficult.

On the international stage, many countries, including Canada, have emphasized the need for economic and political reform in Lebanon as they promised aid.

Canada has pledged up to $30 million in humanitarian and recovery aid to Lebanon, upping its initial contribution by $25 million on Monday.

The federal government will match every donation made to its Humanitarian Coalition between Aug. 4 and 24.

A revolution fuelled by the next generation

Fed up with the government and what’s become of their country, many of Lebanon’s younger generations have been speaking out.

Just one day after the explosion, the streets were filled with people who, armed with brooms, food, water, and other supplies, took it upon themselves to begin cleaning up and attending to those in need.

They helped Red Cross and other first responders search for survivors and the missing, and helped neighbours pick up the pieces of their homes — many of which have been around for decades.

Crumbling from their foundations, buildings in neighbourhoods surrounding the port were cleared out, but videos and social media posts tell the tales of the many people who refused to leave the homes they lived in for the better part of their lives.

It was in the days following the blast that the Lebanese people did what they’ve been doing for years now: they protested.

Demonstrators run from tear gas fired by police near the parliament building during a protest against the political elite and the government after a deadly explosion at the seaport last week which devastated large parts of the capital, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. The massive explosion is just the latest in multiple crises that have hit Lebanon the past year, including massive protests, economic collapse and the coronavirus pandemic. Some Lebanese, whether poor or middle class, now feel their resolve is simply broken. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

The rallies turned violent, with protesters reporting injuries at the hands of security forces, who fired tear gas at demonstrators over the weekend.

Supporting one another

Another theme that’s emerged from the latest tragedy to hit Lebanon is that of support.

People around the globe have been fundraising for the organizations on the frontline helping those affected by the explosion. From soliciting donations to selling their own art, services, or crafts, Lebanon’s people and their allies have found various ways to get the word out that Beirut needs them.

Those behind the efforts, as well as those sharing them, have been clear about how necessary it is for the aid to go to those directly on the frontline through the NGOs and non-profits that are running them. Their fear is for money raised to land in the hands of the people they trust the least: government officials.

Lebanese people’s social media feeds have been filled with links and information on ways to help the country rebuild, efforts they say they’ve had to undertake on behalf of those who are supposed to represent them.

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