French President Emmanuel Macron accused Lebanese politics of failure at all levels. “The Lebanese leaders seem to be relying on a delay strategy, which I regret and consider to be a historical and moral mistake.” Human Rights Watch presented new evidence to support allegations that the government could have prevented the explosion.
“It’s a sad day for all Lebanese – although we survived this massive explosion, we are dead inside,” said Rita Hassan, whose home was destroyed in the disaster. “Since yesterday I’ve been feeling pain all over my body, as if the scars from my wounds had opened again,” said Enaam Kajal, who was seriously injured and had to be sewn with more than 200 stitches. Relatives, doctors, nurses and demonstrators with national flags gathered at the port and in the city center of Beirut.
More than 190 people were killed and around 6,000 injured in the explosion on August 4, 2020. The bereaved even speak of 218 fatalities. Large parts of the port and the adjacent residential areas were massively destroyed. The situation in Lebanon, which is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades and is grappling with the corona pandemic, was further exacerbated by the explosion.
