Negligence, corruption: Beirut survivors' fury following deadly blast

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Survivors and loved ones of the victims of the Beirut explosion have told Rudaw of their anger following the deadly blast which killed at least 158 and injured thousands last week.

“He is a victim of negligence. He is the victim of the politicians in Lebanon. He is the victim of the corruption that has existed in Lebanon for more than 30 years. He is the victim of those who put the explosives here“, said Josephine Zkheb, who lost her friend Joe in the explosion which killed and destroyed at least half of Beirut.

Approximately 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded at Beirut’s port on Tuesday, destroying the entire port area and various neighbourhoods across the city. The highly explosive material is said to have been known to Lebanese authorities since 2013, reigniting fury at Lebanon’s political elite. 

At least 300,000 people have been left homeless by the blast, according to Beirut governor Marwan Abboud. 

Mohammed Ali worked at the port, but was on leave at the time of the explosion. 

“The government had to be aware of the things that were stored in the port but they left it there. What were they doing here? We don’t know,” he said. 

The Lebanese government has “committed a sin against the people,” he added.

Scores of countries have offered assistance to help rebuild the city, already in the grips of an economic crisis and coronavirus pandemic before the deadly blast. 

But locals have pleaded to foreign powers, including French President Emmanuel Macron, to bypass the government, which is widely accused of long-term corruption and mismanagement.

 

Translation by Sarkawt Mohammed