The Wipeout of Beirut

The Lebanon explosion remains one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions ever, yet the rest of the world has moved on from this devastating event. But what’s to come of the city and its citizens?

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The event, taking place back on August 4th, 2020, was first perceived as some sort of terrorist attack, but was later found out to be caused by 2,750 tonnes of the chemical compound, ammonium nitrate, which had been misused. 

The chemical had been stored in the warehouse where the explosion occurred, and due to unknown circumstances, it escaped control, resulting in the awful explosion.

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With over 200 lives lost and 10,000 homes destroyed, the country has dealt extreme measures to recover from the traumatic experience. The cost to repair these damages is estimated at over 15 billion dollars, and with Lebanon’s current economic situation, good news does not seem to be near for the 300,000 citizens left homeless without proper amenities to keep safe.

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The event has contributed to the Lebanese pound’s significant devaluation, and according to research done by CNN, has lost 80% of its value in comparison to the US dollar. Additionally, the rate of poverty and unemployment continues to grow exponentially, making survival nearly impossible for the hundred of thousands dealing with the effects of the explosion. 

 

According to worldmeters.info, as of February 10th, Lebanon has over 328,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. With proper safety measures being the least of the population’s worries, the virus has continued to spread at rapid rates, reaching many of those left homeless following the explosion. Unable to provide for its people, the country has been left helpless, as thousands of families traumatized by the explosion work to get back on their feet, while staying clear of the deadly COVID-19 virus. 

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However, good news does lie in store for the upcoming future.  According to  worldbank.org, the country has begun its COVID-19 vaccinating process and hopes to have 70% of all its population vaccinated by 2022. With many obstacles to overcome, a chance for the Lebanese people affected by the explosion to take a breath is crucial, and having an opportunity to rebuild their situation without the stress of catching a deadly virus will be extremely helpful.

 

Also in hopes of aiding the countries situation, organizations such as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Funds (UNICEF) and The Red Cross have taken action to aid the Lebanese people. In particular, the Lebanese Red Cross has played a large role in supporting Beirut in its current state, and whether it has come to supplying food, water, and masks, or saving people from the rubble of the explosion, they have been present all throughout. 

 

The organization has supplied over 80,0000 affected men, women, and children, and provided counseling to over 5,700 people all within the first few months of the deadly event.

 

 

With hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens still suffering from an event taking place 6 months ago, it is clear that Beirut has been left traumatized and without proper resources to recover from the horrific explosion which took place in early last August. Many have come to aid the country, but much still has to be done before society is back to normal in Lebanon. Throughout the meantime, continuing to spread awareness of the country’s situations will do a large part in the further aid and recovery of Beirut and Lebanon.