A blast caused by ammonium nitrate in the port of Beirut, Lebanon has killed and injured many.
On Tuesday, two explosions sent a blast across the city, damaging thousands of buildings and harming many inside. Footage shows a huge cloud of smoke followed by a second, much bigger explosion, engulfing the surrounding areas in smoke and rubble. Eyewitnesses have described the glass shattering around them and the buildings shaking, leading to further injuries. The blas is believed to be from a warehouse containing explosive material.
Politically, Lebanon has been at crisis for years, with many protests and and with Covid-19 the country has been driven further into poverty, with the value of the currency falling and an economic crisis. Human Rights Watch released an article before the explosion on the ‘economic and political crisis endangering people’s basic rights’, because of a lack of reform to improve quality of life as, as well as lack of reform to stop the systemic discrimination to people, based on sexism, homophobia and transphobia. The health sector is also struggling with Covid-19 and there are rising tensions with bordering countries.
This explosion has led to further poverty, with as many as 30000 left homeless by the destruction. The already pressured health service has been overloaded with patients, with many hospitals calling for generators and blood donations, with footage emerging of surgeons using phone lights to operate. Many people have blamed the ruling class and political elite, Reuters claims.
Over half the city has been damaged, and it is clear that the country will be further devastated by this explosion. The death toll is currently around 154, and the Labanese Government has said that emergency funds will be used to cover the costs to rebuild Beirut. Other countries have also promised aid to help the country, including the UN who has released aid, such as emergency shelter material, to the country.
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Written by Anna Male
Artwork by Isabel Johns
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