European Commissioner Janez Lenarčič visiting the Port of Lebanon in September 2020
EU High Representative and Vice President Josep Borrell has marked the anniversary of last year’s Beirut port explosion by urging Lebanese authorities to speed up their investigation into the causes of the blast: “The families of the victims and the Lebanese people are still waiting for answers,” writes Catherine Feore.
On 4 August 2020, 2,750 tonnes of highly explosive ammonium nitrate exploded in Beirut’s port killing more than 218 people, injuring 7,000, displacing 330,000 and causing widespread destruction and devastation estimated at $10 billion.
The ammonium nitrate was stored for more than six years after the Lebanese Port authorities confiscated it from a ship that was sailing from Georgia to Mozambique.
Isabel Santos MEP (S&D, Portugal), chairwoman of the delegation for relations with the Mashreq said: “The only way forward to honour the victims and write a new brighter page for Lebanon is by carrying out a thorough investigation, to be conducted in an expeditious and impartial manner, about the causes and the responsibilities of the Beirut blast.
“Any further delay on the investigation will only increase mistrust and resentment among Lebanese citizens towards national institutions and democracy. We need to be very clear on this: political and judicial accountability must be ensured.”
Government capable of reform
In a statement EU High Representative Borrell said: “The EU encourages the Lebanese political leaders to seize this opportunity to regain the trust of the Lebanese people, set their differences aside and quickly form a government with a strong mandate to address the current economic, financial and social crises, implement long overdue reforms and prepare for elections in 2022.
“The European Union welcomes and will participate in the conference co-chaired by France and the United Nations on 4 August in support of Lebanon’s most vulnerable people.”
Pedro Marques MEP (S&D. Portugal) said: “The dire economic and social situation in Lebanon can only be overcome through a democratic political solution. In this regard, bold and concrete steps forward are urgently needed. Political factions need to put aside their own interests and instead work together to swiftly form a new government. No delays or excuses can be further accepted. The EU is ready to facilitate this process. We expect that the new designated prime minister will soon form a government capable of implementing the needed reforms to save the country from the current crisis.”
EU donates €5.5 million to help COVID-19 response
Today (4 August) the European Commission announced that it is allocating €5.5 million in humanitarian funding to help strengthen the COVID-19 response in Lebanon.
EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič said: “The virus is rapidly spreading while there is very limited access to free testing and intensive care units are overwhelmed. Along with the pandemic’s impact, Lebanese people as well as refugees are still coping with the aftermath of the devastating Beirut explosion in 2020 and the ongoing economic and political crisis. In response, the EU is mobilising humanitarian support to help alleviate the suffering of those most in need in Lebanon and help the country fight the pandemic.”
The latest funding to Lebanon is in addition to the EU’s initial allocation of €50 million in humanitarian aid for 2021. The funding will support the vaccination rollout to reach the highest possible number of people over the coming months and to prevent an increase in infections.
Pity the Nation
A factsheet on the overall situation in Lebanon produced by the European Commission makes for grim reading. Nine out of ten of the 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon and one out of three Lebanese live in abject poverty. This has unsurprisingly led to inter-communal tension, often over scarcity of resources. Syrian households have become highly indebted and struggle to survive. Child labour doubled in 2020 and 24% of Syrian refugee girls aged 15-19 are married. Across the country, many Syrian refugees live in mostly small informal tented settlements or shelters that are substandard, exposing people to harsh weather conditions. The closure of schools left 1.2 million children missing out on school education in 2020. 40% of school-aged Syrian refugees remain out of any learning programme.
In addition, frequent and extended power cuts threaten the delivery of water across the country. Hospitals have downsized their capacity and are mostly admitting critical cases. There is a huge shortage of medicine and medical supplies and many doctors and nurses have left Lebanon.