Beirut explosion and the situation of Lebanon

A massive explosion destroyed half of the capital of Lebanon. The destruction was caused by the blast can be seen through the videos posted on social media. The impact of the blast was felt to distance more than the physical extent.

Lebanese people were already facing a collapse in the country's economic condition for more than a year and a half. An explosion like this had completely pushed the country towards a long struggle of political, financial, health conditions, etc.

REASON BEHIND BEIRUT BLAST

Everything has begun from Sept 2013 when a ship from Georgia travelling to Mozambique, stopped at the port of the city Beirut, carrying a massive 2750 metric tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a combustible substance required for making fertilisers, and bombs also.

It was a Russian-leased cargo ship but due to some financial and diplomatic reasons, the Russian abandoned it. Consequently, the ammonium nitrate was transferred to the dockside warehouse in Beirut. On Tuesday, August 4, it exploded and killed more than 140 people and causing thousands injured.

Questions were raised by the citizens and many officials that even after knowing the consequences the authorities showed their negligence and failed to act, and now it has costed the whole country. 

The custom officials provided solutions for the stored ammonium nitrate. They advised to donate it to the army or selling it to the explosives producing companies across the country. They also said that all their requests during the period of 2014 to 2017 were denied by the judiciary. 

It was an accident caused by the negligence of the judicial system which will, unfortunately, make the lives of Beirut citizens more miserable than before.  

LEBANON BEFORE THE BLAST

The situation of Lebanon was already miserable because of political unacceptance and economic crisis. Last year, the Lebanese currency fall was 80% and meanwhile, it increased to 85% in some time. 

With 30% population out of 68.5 lakhs are below the poverty line, the unemployment rate rose to 25% at the time of October 2019. 

An extreme fall in the GDP of the country made the situation worse as the businesses were not accepting credit cards for the transaction as they fear the banks would not pay their money. 

Many similar situations were there to worsen the financial problems in the country. The government decided to impose a tax of around 4.5 pounds on using the WhatsApp, which consequently made the Lebanese people unhappy.

The impact of coronavirus was drastic, increased poverty, unemployment, and lack of medical facilities. 

CONSEQUENCES OF EXPLOSION

Lebanon governor broke into tears after the incident took place

According to the Governor of Lebanon, Riad Salame, more than 300,000 people have become homeless, 90% of the hotels of Beirut have destroyed. The death toll is now 140 and is still increasing, with injured more than 5,000.

The property in the range of 10-20 kilometres of the blast has destroyed completely. The hospitals are facing a big challenge of differentiating the injured and the coronavirus patients. The estimate lose is of around $3 billion. 

Donald Trump has claimed that it was a bomb blast, which is yet to be investigated but several sources denied. British Government is ready to provide health-related financial aid while the Australian government has helped financially. Russia has also come forward to help.