Author: Dan Yi
One day after the explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, people are still in shock and pain. The busy and prosperous port on weekdays has become a piece of scorched earth, leaving a deep pit with a diameter of about 140 meters. The storage granaries and medicine warehouses that link the lifeline of the people of this country have also been destroyed, and the previous port scenery no longer exists. The strong contrast between the past and the present is embarrassing.
The picture shows the comparison before and after the explosion in the Beirut port area, with a gap in the land of the port.
The picture above is an aerial photograph of Beirut Port in the past, and the picture below is an aerial photograph after the explosion. The vicinity of the port was razed to the ground.
But in this disaster, there are still hopes. A video on social networking sites showed an old grandmother in a messy home playing a piece of "Friendship Forever" on the piano for her family. Her granddaughter described this moment as "beauty in ashes."
Just like this old man trying to get rid of pain, Lebanon, on the verge of survival, is also working hard to get out of the darkest moment with the assistance of many countries.
137 deaths, 5000 wounds!
Port officials have been put under house arrest
At present, the Beirut port explosion has caused at least 137 deaths and about 5,000 injuries. The injured included about 100 UN staff and their families.
The military dispatched several helicopters to put out the fire. The Lebanese Minister of Health Hassan previously stated that many people are missing, but because the sky is dark and the local power cuts, it is difficult to search at night. Due to the increasing number of injuries, Beirut Hospital has been overwhelmed, and a large number of people have been sent to hospitals outside the city.
Currently, rescuers have not stopped their operations. With thousands of people calling their family and friends at the same time, Lebanon's telecommunications network is under tremendous pressure.
Lebanese soldiers searched for survivors among the rubble.
The combined picture shows the scene after the explosion on August 22, 2019, the port of Beirut, Lebanon, and August 5, 2020.
Lebanese President Aoun previously stated that the explosion is believed to be caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in the port warehouse for many years. He said that it is "unacceptable" not to store such a large amount of chemicals safely.
According to reports, the authorities have put several port officials under house arrest and launched investigations into them. The Supreme Defense Council of Lebanon said that those involved may face "the highest penalty."
A smile can help too!
Provide emergency rescue in multiple countries
A day after the explosion, young volunteers in Lebanon rushed to the streets to help the people affected by the disaster. A 26-year-old said that no one should sit at home because "even a smile is now helpful."
At the same time, many countries reached out and provided emergency assistance to Lebanon.
The European Union issued an announcement on the 5th. As the first step of emergency assistance, the European Union has activated the civil defense mechanism at the request of the Lebanese government. It is currently dispatching more than 100 well-trained firefighters to help Lebanon. They will be taken to the cities. The search and rescue vehicles, search and rescue dogs and other equipment worked with the Lebanese authorities to treat the wounded.
As Lebanon sought help from the international community, many countries expressed their deep condolences and expressed their willingness to provide assistance. The picture shows members of the French Securite Civile rescue organization arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Dozens of rescue workers will fly to Lebanon with supplies to carry out rescue work.
France has sent two planes full of experts, rescuers and materials to Beirut. French President Macron visited Lebanon on the 6th. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo posted on social networking sites on the 5th that the Eiffel Tower in France turned off the lights at midnight in memory of the victims of the Beirut bombing.
Middle Eastern countries have also extended a helping hand. The Qatar Air Force plane carried hundreds of foldable beds and generators to Beirut; Kuwait sent medical supplies to Lebanon; Tunisia sent a medical team and proposed to bring 100 patients back to Tunisia for treatment.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced on the 5th that the second Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations aircraft carrying professionals landed in Beirut. Earlier reports stated that the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations will send five planes to Beirut, carrying mobile hospitals, medical staff, rescue workers and new coronavirus testing laboratories.
According to a CCTV financial report, after the explosion, the Chinese peacekeeping medical team transferred nine medical personnel from the fields of surgery, internal medicine, burns, anesthesiology and other fields to form the "Beirut Explosion" emergency medical team, and carried drugs, consumables, protective supplies, etc. Materials are ready for rescue.
There will be no food crisis!
Four vessels carrying 28,000 tons of wheat are already on the way
The explosion in the Beirut port area destroyed a main granary. However, the Lebanese government pointed out that wheat stocks are sufficient to meet demand for one and a half months, and the government will import more wheat, so there will be no food crisis.
Lebanese media quoted the head of the country’s wheat importers’ union as saying that in the bombed granary, the original wheat stocks were running out. After the explosion, four ships carrying about 28,000 tons of wheat were expected to be transferred to the port of Tripoli because they were unable to unload at the port of Beirut.
On the evening of August 4, local time, a violent explosion occurred in the port area of Beirut, Lebanon. The port area is very close to Beirut's urban area. The explosion affected nearly half of Beirut's urban area and many buildings were damaged.
According to data from the US Department of Agriculture, about 80% of Lebanon's wheat supply depends on imports, and the bombed granary is managed by the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade, which can store 85% of the country's grain.
Most of Lebanon’s imported wheat enters through the port of Beirut. The Minister of Public Works of the country pointed out that after the port of Beirut was destroyed, Tripoli, the second largest port city in northern Lebanon, is expected to become a major shipping center.
Important logistics hubs reduced to ruins
Beirut explosion "misfortune never comes singly"
Lebanon has very limited natural resources, so it has to import more than 70% of the raw materials and food needed. But now, the country's most important logistics hub is in ruins. Although the Ministry of Transport announced that most of the cargo will now pass through the port of Tripoli, its capacity is several times smaller than that of the port of Beirut.
On the evening of August 4, local time, a huge explosion occurred in the port area of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Many houses were damaged, glass was shattered, and pink mushroom clouds and thick smoke rose in the sky.
Lebanese economist Basem Ajaka believes: “Even if the entire transport capacity can be distributed among the ports of Tripoli, Tyre and Saida, trouble will not be avoided. First of all, this kind of transport chain transfer requires a lot of money. And time; secondly, the throughput of these ports is not large. This means that Lebanon’s import and export volume will be severely reduced, and the country will lose a lot of funds accordingly."
Russian Satellite Network reported that the explosion will cause a large number of companies connected with the destroyed facilities or close their doors, which means that hundreds or even thousands of people will inevitably lose their jobs.
According to the BBC, the Lebanese are facing the most serious economic crisis in the past few decades.
Public debt accounts for 150% of gross domestic product (GDP), ranking third in the world. According to official data, the youth unemployment rate has reached 37%, and the overall unemployment rate is 25%. According to the World Bank, almost one-third of Lebanese now live below the poverty line.
At the same time, the new crown pneumonia epidemic is still spreading in Lebanon. This big explosion can be described as "misfortunes never come singly."