Print Magazine
Brussels Morning Newspaper
Thursday, October 5, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Newspaper
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
Home World

Beirut explosion: Lebanon security forces fire teargas at protesters as anger mounts

BrusselsMorning by BrusselsMorning
7 August 2020
in World, Features
Beirut explosion: Lebanon security forces fire teargas at protesters as anger mounts
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Lebanese security forces have fired teargas at demonstrators in Beirut, as rage over the country’s leadership grew following a massive explosion that laid waste to large parts of the capital on Tuesday.

State media reported late on Thursday that security forces confronted dozens of anti-government protesters in central Beirut. Some in the small protest were wounded, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Protesters had gathered near parliament, where a small fire was lit and stones were thrown at security forces, according to NNA.

Shock has turned to anger in the city where 154 people died and more than 5,000 were injured when a huge pile of ammonium nitrate that had languished for years in a port warehouse ignited.

Volunteers continued arriving from across Lebanon to clear dust and debris from the neighbourhoods surrounding the blast site. Some people returned to their shattered homes and shops for the first time since the explosion.

“What do you want me to say?” a woman named Hilda, inspecting the wreckage of her gift shop, told the Lebanese broadcaster LBCI. “There’s nothing left of the neighbourhood, not just our store.”

She added: “I won’t rebuild in this country. They [the politicians] had left us our work and homes – and now they’re gone. If something changes, we’ll rebuild. If not, then I won’t. Let them rebuild.”

Lebanon’s president Michel Aoun said on Friday an investigation would examine whether “external interference through a rocket or bomb or other act” played a role in the blast. He has previously blamed negligence in the storage of highly explosive material for years at the port.

On Thursday Lebanon’s ambassador to Jordan announced her resignation, saying “total negligence” by the country’s authorities signalled the need for a leadership change.

In a televised statement Tracy Chamoun said she could no longer tolerate the government’s ineptitude.

“I am announcing my resignation as an ambassador … in protest against state negligence, theft and lying,” said Chamoun. “This disaster rang a bell: we should not show any of them mercy and they all must go,” she added. “This is total negligence.”

It is the second resignation by a Lebanese official since the explosion. A lawmaker, Marwan Hamadeh, resigned on Wednesday over the blast, which authorities said was triggered by a fire igniting 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.

Compounding the country’s woes, Lebanon recorded 255 coronavirus cases on Thursday – its highest single-day infection tally – after the explosion upended a planned lockdown and sent thousands streaming into overflowing hospitals.

The death toll rose to 154 on Friday, and was expected to further increase as rescue workers kept digging through the rubble.

Even as they counted their dead, many Lebanese were consumed with anger over the blast. “We can’t bear more than this. This is it. The whole system has got to go,” said 30-year-old Mohammad Suyur.

The small demonstration on Thursday night, as well as a flood of angry social media posts, suggested the disaster could reignite a cross-sectarian protest movement that erupted in October but faded because of the grinding economic hardship and the coronavirus pandemic.

Aoun and the prime minister, Hassan Diab, have promised to put those responsible for the disaster behind bars. A military prosecutor announced 16 port staff had been detained.

Trust in institutions is low and few on Beirut’s streets hold out hope for an impartial inquiry. The country’s ruling class has long been accused of ineptitude and corruption, and has become the target of a protest movement that began in October demanding systemic change.

The small Mediterranean nation has since been gripped by its worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 war, further fuelling anti-government sentiments.

Many have raised questions as to how a huge cargo of highly explosive ammonium nitrate could have been left unsecured in the capital for years.

On Thursday, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, toured the city’s devastated port and surrounding suburbs, as hundreds of people in one neighbourhood called for revolution and the downfall of the government.

“I guarantee you this – aid will not go to corrupt hands,” Macron told the protesters. “I will talk to all political forces to ask them for a new pact. I am here today to propose a new political pact to them.”

But he also warned that the country – already in desperate need of a multibillion-dollar bailout and hit by political turmoil since October – would “continue to sink” unless it implemented urgent reforms.

The International Monetary Fund, whose talks with Lebanon started in May but have since stalled, warned it was “essential to overcome the impasse in the discussions on critical reforms”.

The IMF urged Lebanon – which is seeking more than $20bn (£15bn) in external funding and now faces billions more in disaster costs – “to put in place a meaningful programme to turn around the economy”.

Amid the fury and gloom, the explosion’s aftermath has also yielded countless uplifting examples of spontaneous solidarity. Business owners swiftly posted offers to repair doors, paint damaged walls or replace shattered windows for free.

Lebanon’s diaspora, believed to be nearly three times the tiny country’s 5 million population, has launched fundraisers and wired money to loved ones.

In Beirut, volunteers handled much of the cleanup. Husam Abu Nasr, a 30-year-old volunteer, said: “We don’t have a state to take these steps, so we took matters into our own hands.”

SOURCE

Tags: Beirut explosion
Follow Brussels Morning
Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

About Us

Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

More Info

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Jobs

Categories

  • Belgium News
  • Brussels
  • Culture and Society
  • Economy
  • EU Institutions
  • Commission
  • Council
  • Parliament
  • Europe
  • Features
  • Health & Fitness
  • In Depth
  • Ambassador’s Corner
  • Europe With Transparency
  • Place de la Bourse
  • Southeast Europe
  • Sustainable Perspective
  • The American Angle
  • The Macro-Economist
  • Member States
  • Opinion
  • Our pick
  • Uncategorised
  • World
  • Diplomacy
  • Middle East Eye
  • US Elections
  • Join Our Newsletter

    Brussels Morning Newspaper – All Rights Reserved © 2020

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Brussels Bubble
      • Parliament
      • Commission
      • Council
    • Wider Europe
      • Member States
    • World
    • Business & Society
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Culture & Society
    • Policy Talks
      • Place de la Bourse
      • The Macro-Economist
      • Sustainable Perspective
      • Ambassador’s Corner
      • The American Angle
      • Southeast Europe
    • Print Magazine

    Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT