Multilateral assistance illuminates hope for Lebanon in trouble
【Special attention】
On the evening of August 4, a violent explosion occurred in the port area of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, causing a large number of casualties and property losses. After the explosion, Lebanese President Aoun presided over an emergency security meeting, declaring Beirut as a disaster-stricken city and implementing a two-week state of emergency in Beirut, supervised by the military. The government also urges relevant departments to take measures to help the victims, including opening schools, hotels and other places to the homeless, and ensuring the supply of civilian resources. At the same time, an investigation committee was established to conduct a 5-day investigation into the specific cause of the explosion. The Presidential Palace of Lebanon issued a statement on the 7th. Aoun said in a meeting with media reporters that the investigation into the cause of the explosion will focus on how the explosives entered the port warehouse, whether the explosion was caused by negligence or the missile or bomb "external intervention" The results and other aspects.
Beirut suffered severe trauma
Up to now, the explosion in the Beirut port area has caused at least 154 deaths and about 5,000 injuries, and dozens of others are unaccounted for. Lebanese Prime Minister Diab declared August 5 as Lebanon's National Day of Mourning, and all Lebanese government agencies lowered their flags at half mast. Neighboring countries such as Kuwait and Israel also lighted the Lebanese flag on their landmark buildings on August 5 to pay tribute to the victims of the Beirut port bombing.
After the explosion in the Beirut port area, Lebanese State Prosecutor Vidat issued a travel ban on 7 people including Beirut Port General Manager Kuretem and Lebanese Customs Officer Dashir on the 6th. At the same time, the Special Investigation Committee of the Central Bank of Lebanon announced that it would freeze their direct or indirect bank accounts and lift the relevant bank secrecy system. The Lebanese government also announced on the 5th that all officials who supervised and guarded warehouses in Beirut Port since 2014 will be placed under house arrest.
The specific cause of the explosion is still unclear. According to Lebanese media reports, several Lebanese officials mentioned that approximately 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate have been stored in warehouses in the Beirut port area since 2014. The Lebanese State Security Administration has issued three warning reports on Beirut port explosives. The first report was released on December 10 last year, and the second and third reports were released on June 4 and July 20 this year, respectively.
The Governor of Beirut Province, Marwan Abboud, assessed on August 6 that the economic losses caused by the explosion to Lebanon would be as high as 10 to 15 billion U.S. dollars, and the explosion would bring greater damage to Lebanon in a long time. Negative impact. On the one hand, the port of Beirut is the largest port for the import and export and transshipment of Lebanese goods. Every year, about 3,000 cargo ships transport goods to Lebanon through the port of Beirut. More than 80% of Lebanon’s import and export of goods rely on this port, and Lebanon’s second largest port, Tripoli Although the port can partially replace the role of Beirut, it cannot fully meet Lebanon's maritime transport needs for the time being. The explosion caused comprehensive damage to the storage buildings, cargo handling and handling equipment and other supporting facilities in Beirut Port, which will have a serious impact on Lebanon's import and export trade for a long time.
At the same time, the granary in Beirut port is Lebanon's main grain storage base. The explosion has brought serious hidden dangers to Lebanon's food security. Lebanese Minister of Economy Raoul Nem stated on August 5 that Lebanon’s main granary in Beirut port was destroyed in an explosion on the 4th, losing a large amount of grain, resulting in Lebanon’s national food reserve being less than one month. There are still enough flour reserves to deal with the crisis. In addition, about 300,000 people lost their homes in the explosion, including about 80,000 children, who needed to find temporary shelters inside and outside Beirut. Many people had to sleep on the streets. This will also bring about social security and economic development in Beirut. A heavy burden. In addition, the explosion also caused the failure of 3 hospitals in Beirut, and the other two hospitals suffered severe damage, and about 500 beds were unavailable. This also put tremendous pressure on the treatment of the affected people.
Exacerbated by multiple crises
Since October 2019, Lebanon has been facing a serious economic and social crisis. The public debt of the Lebanese government is as high as 86 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for about 150% of GDP, ranking third in the world. Lebanon’s main currency, the Lebanese pound, has depreciated by about 80% since October last year, leading to soaring prices of Lebanese commodities and continuing decline in people’s living standards. According to data from the United Nations and the World Bank, almost one third of Lebanon’s 6.8 million people live below the poverty line. Lebanon is also the country with the highest proportion of refugees in the world. About one-fifth of the Lebanese population are refugees from surrounding turbulent areas such as Syria. A large part of these refugees have no income and only rely on international assistance to make a living.
The deterioration of the economy has also brought serious political crises and social problems to Lebanon. First, a large number of social institutions and companies have begun to lay off workers. According to statistics, the youth unemployment rate in Lebanon has reached 37% and the overall unemployment rate is 25%. At the same time, the government's basic public service capabilities have also begun to decline. Many areas in Lebanon, including the capital, have experienced long-term power outages, unmaintainable Internet signals, lack of safe water, and public medical care, causing serious dissatisfaction among the people. The government's policy to increase fiscal revenues on social software, fuel and other new taxes once ignited public anger, causing millions of people to take to the streets to protest and march, and public facilities such as shopping malls, banks, hospitals, and schools were repeatedly paralyzed.
The new crown pneumonia epidemic that has ravaged the world this year has also led to the further deterioration of Lebanon's economic and social crisis. In order to prevent the spread of the new crown virus, the Lebanese government has introduced a series of blockade measures since March. Many businesses have been forced to reduce their employees, many employees have to leave their jobs without pay, and some living supplies are in short supply. Rising prices, lack of supplies, and reduced income have caused Lebanese people’s dissatisfaction with the government to continue to ferment. Social conflicts have further intensified. Vicious social security incidents such as violent robbery and arson of banks have occurred in some areas. The explosion in the Beirut port area on the 4th made Lebanon face more serious economic, social and food security burdens, which will undoubtedly worsen Lebanon, which is already in crisis.
Multilateral assistance lights up hope
After the Beirut bombing, many countries in the international community quickly reached out to help. Many countries quickly sent large quantities of relief supplies, medical equipment and supplies to Lebanon.
Rochdi, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said on August 6 that US$9 million will be allocated from the Lebanese Humanitarian Fund for the country’s current emergency humanitarian needs. The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator and Deputy Secretary-General of Humanitarian Affairs Lowcock said that more funds will be allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund to help and strengthen the capacity of existing hospitals in Lebanon. This will include expanding and establishing additional intensive care units when needed, and providing trauma kits, ventilators, medical supplies and medicines. The World Health Organization is also carrying out emergency rescue work in Lebanon, providing a large amount of surgical support to the people who were traumatized and burned in the explosion.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to Lebanese President Aoun regarding the major bombing in Beirut, Lebanon on August 5. The Chinese government launched the humanitarian aid emergency response mechanism on August 5, and will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese government as soon as possible according to the urgent needs of the Lebanese side to help the Lebanese side carry out the treatment of the injured and the resettlement of the displaced. At the same time, China's 18th batch of peacekeeping medical teams to Lebanon also immediately selected nine medical personnel from surgery, internal medicine, burns, anesthesia, and nursing to form the "Beirut blast" emergency medical team to prepare for the rescue of local victims.
French President Macron arrived in Beirut on August 6 and went to the front line to condolences the people affected by the disaster. He repeatedly emphasized that Lebanon would not face difficulties alone, and "France and Lebanon stand together." After the explosion in Lebanon, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation announced that it will send 5 aircraft to Beirut to provide assistance for the relief work after the big bang. It will also deploy a mobile hospital equipped with doctors in Beirut to rescue people injured in the big blast. . Russia will also send experts from the Russian Consumer Rights Supervision Bureau to Beirut, and provide new coronavirus testing laboratories, protective clothing and protective equipment. The European Union launched the civil defense mechanism on August 5. EU countries will urgently dispatch about 250 rescuers, including firefighters, biochemical experts, medical experts, etc., to Lebanon through this mechanism, and transport a large number of sniffer dogs, search and rescue equipment and medical care. Equipment and other equipment, the European Union also announced on the 6th that it will provide more than 33 million euros in assistance to Lebanon to help Lebanon, which was hit hard by the explosion, tide over the difficulties. Tunisian President Said said on the 5th that the Tunisian government will provide emergency food and medicine assistance to Lebanon. The Tunisian side plans to send two special planes to Lebanon to transport Lebanon urgently needed food and medicine. The plane can pick up 100 Lebanese wounded when it returns. So that they can receive treatment in Tunisia. In addition, neighboring countries such as Iraq and Jordan quickly formed medical teams to participate in rescue work in Lebanon.
It is worth mentioning that it is in a state of hostility with Lebanon. Neighboring Israel, which had military frictions with Lebanon not long ago, also put aside the conflict and extended a helping hand to the affected Lebanese people. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed condolences to the Lebanese people after the explosion and said that the Israeli government is ready to provide the Lebanese people with "person-to-person" humanitarian assistance. Some Israeli hospitals near the Lebanese border announced that they are ready to accept Lebanese people affected by the disaster and that they have contacted the Lebanese side. Some Lebanese wounded may be sent to these hospitals for treatment at any time. The mayor of Tel Aviv, Israel, Ron Heldé also emphasized in his social media that "the spirit of mutual help among human beings is always more important than conflict. In the face of this terrible disaster, our hearts are with the Lebanese people."
I believe that with the full assistance of the international community, the Lebanese people will be able to rebuild their homeland as soon as possible and get out of the predicament.
(Tel Aviv, August 7th, by our reporter Wang Jiong in Tel Aviv)