The Lebanese are today commemorating with pain and anger the first anniversary of the deadly explosion in the port of Beirut that killed 214 people, with those responsible for the tragedy not yet found and tried.
Today, France and the United Nations are holding another international conference to offer emergency humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable in a Lebanon plunged into the worst socio-economic crisis in its history.
The chronicle of the tragedy
On August 4, 2020, shortly after 18:00 local time, the Lebanese capital was shaken by the explosion of hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate which had been stored for years in a warehouse in the port of Beirut "without protection", as he admitted. the government itself.
Shock, disaster, pain and rage: 214 dead, more than 6.500 injured and entire neighborhoods leveled.
The tragedy occurred in a country on the brink of economic collapse and ruled by an abandoned political class.
To pay tribute to the victims and demand justice, their families and activists are organizing marches this afternoon, overnight with candles and religious ceremonies in front of the port or near the parliament building.
Among the victims were firefighters who were killed while trying to put out the fire in the port that preceded the explosion, or port workers who were crushed by the collapsed grain warehouses.
#Beirut #beirutblast #BeirutExplosion #beirutblast # انفجار_مرفأ_بيروت # ٤_آب #Lebanon
FOR JUSTICE FOR LIBERATION
4 Aug 2020 we will never forget pic.twitter.com/IcwnqEpgIU- Gaby Salem (@SalemGaby) August 3
An entire nation injured
A year later, although some neighborhoods have been rebuilt largely thanks to NGOs and volunteers, as the state has done little or nothing, if the wounds have healed, an entire nation remains injured.
One in three families have children who still show signs of "psychological trauma", according to Unicef. Among adults the percentage reaches one in two.
Read also: Lebanon - One year after the deadly explosion one in three children have psychological problems
And despite the magnitude of the tragedy that shocked global public opinion, local investigations have stalled and no one responsible has been identified or prosecuted, although justice has targeted former ministers and security officials.
The political class has been criticized for doing everything it can to torpedo the investigation and avoid persecution, with officials hiding behind their immunity.
Today #Lebanon marks a year since a cataclysmic explosion ravaged #Beirut, with a mix of grief over lost 214 lives and rage at the impunity for its worst peacetime disaster.
DESPITE #lebanese public pressure, there are still more questions than answers: https://t.co/SdIYw18QE1 pic.twitter.com/JFM7t8Y2Mo
- TRT World Research Center (@TRTWorldRC) August 4
Ultimatum
Families of the victims demanding the waiver of this immunity gave an ultimatum to the rulers and threatened to "break the bones" of anyone who opposes their anger today.
"Ordinary and peaceful demonstrations are coming (…) Watch out for our anger," warned Ibrahim Hoteit, a spokesman for the families.
As far as NGOs are concerned, their conclusion is absolute.
Authorities "shamefully obstructed the search for truth and justice for the victims," Amnesty International said in a statement.
"Many authorities (…) have shown criminal negligence," the Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized.
With information from ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ, AFP
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