You’ve see the news reports and the Instagram posts. You have seen the videos and the impact it has had on the home of the cedars we call our home. On the early hours of Tuesday evening, the 4th of August, the capital of Lebanon faced a disaster unlike any other. An explosion in the port of Beirut resulted in the death of over 150 people and more than 6,000 people injured. The 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate has put over 300,000 people out of home and stripped the unique beauty away from a country that has been dragged through the mud for far too long.
What caused the explosions?
As said by the President of Lebanon, Michel Aoun, the explosions were a result of the unsafely stored ammonium nitrate, which was located in a warehouse in the port. These have been unsafely stored for years and neglected, despite warnings since 2016.
Ammonium nitrate is crystal-like white solid which is typically used to produce nitrogen for agricultural fertilisers. It also a product used to create explosives in the mining and construction industries, when combined with oil. It has also been used to make bombs by militants in the past.
If stored correctly, this substance should not be of great danger, however if a large amount is left lying around over a long period of time, it begins to decay. The explosions seems to have been triggered by a fire. An investigation has been promised by President Aoun, and is determined to find who is responsible and punish them accordingly.
The people have pointed the finger directly towards the government and blamed them for failing at their role of protecting their people. This explosion was not inevitable and it must be known that without the obvious negligence, these innocent lives could have been spared.
What is happening now? To say the people of Lebanon are angry is an understatement. They are furious and rightfully so. They're voices have fallen on deaf years since October of 2019 when the revolution first began. During this time, people of all ages, religious backgrounds and villages came together to stand up against their government and fight for the justice they deserve, beginning an anti-government movement. Throughout these times, the people were hungry, thirsty and lacked all faith and trust in their government. An increase of covid cases, more empty fridges and higher suicide rates, the explosion had kept millions awake.
Their anger multiplied and the riots began once again, except this time, the people will stop at nothing to abolish the government who failed at their primary role of KEEPING THEIR PEOPLE SAFE.
As we speak, the streets of Lebanon are filled with protests and grief.
Government buildings have been stormed, 100+ people have been wounded due to the violent approaches of the riot police. The people are being tear gassed, shot with rubber bullets, and beaten.
As of the 11th of August, the Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, has resigned himself and the entire government and has formally been approved by the President, Michel Aoun. Diab claimed that the explosion was a crime, as a result of extreme corruption, that was bigger than the state. His step down was said to be for him to "stand with the people and fight the battle for change alongside them".
This reform of government is a relief to the people of Lebanon, however, they will continue to struggle to have any trust in their leaders, even as a re-election is run.
Is this truly going to be a change, or simply new faces with the same corrupt mindset?
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