REPORTAGE
Visiting Lebanon, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron pledged help after the two explosions that ravaged downtown Beirut on Tuesday. He also called for reforms in the government, in a country weakened by a serious economic crisis and years of corruption. For the angry population, the blasts were the catastrophe too many. Part of the youth is disillusioned and no longer wants to wait for a possible recovery in Lebanon. Some people think of leaving their country of birth for good. Europe 1 went to meet them.
>> READ ALSO - Explosions in Lebanon: after the "astonishment" will come the time for "change"
"We have reached a point where we can no longer take this country"
"What is happening unfortunately pushes me to leave, because I do not see a future in this country," says Kelly, a student in psychology. She is impatiently awaiting the end of her license to finally apply for a Masters in France. She had been planning to leave Lebanon for a long time, like Sarah 20. The explosions were the final blow. "You see people who want to live, who really fight and struggle for it and they lost everything in a blast. My dreams were to have a job and a stable income, to have a house, to grow old here in this city. country. And I have no choice now, I must leave ".
>> READ ALSO - Explosions in Lebanon: solidarity is organized for those who have lost their housing
Faced with the economic crisis and the corruption that plagues the country, young people feel they are facing a wall. An accumulation of problems that could cause many departures. "We have reached a point where we can no longer take this country. It is either we repair it or we leave by the hundreds!", Says Michel, employee of 26 years. “My parents told me 'if you go we'll come with you and we'll stay there forever.' They're willing to sell whatever ties them to the country, just to get out of here." He thinks more and more of resigning to apply to a French university and find his two sisters who have already made the trip to Paris.