The deafening explosion that devastated Beirut port incurred losses at all levels and revealed an extremely fragile and negligent political system that was unable to deal with a disaster that afflicted the country amidst the worst economic crisis in Lebanon's history and while the COVID-19 was still spreading. Certainly, everybody noticed the absence of any governmental action in the post-explosion scene. State agencies failed to assume their duties. We did not witness as well a significant and proactive role for municipalities or any initiative to equip public hospitals so they can receive those who were in dire need for urgent care and were not able to find a facility to get treated. Yet, people who were not affiliated with state agencies were there to treat the wounded and rescue those trapped under the rubble. They took the initiative to clean the roads and offer aid to people affected by the explosion. All of this took place in the absence of an effective governmental role in rescuing, assisting, and removing the rubble. The government that did not attempt to take any serious and responsible steps simply resigned a few days after the explosion.
An International Community Active in the Post-Explosion Scene
During the past few months, many countries isolated themselves to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Lebanese economic crisis became even more severe, for there was no possible external intervention that could come to aid. Furthermore, regional political factors have reinforced a rigid international position vis a vis Lebanon. But the size of the explosion had clearly broken this stalemate. The event was horrific, and the state of shock it produced worldwide was comparable to the one felt on the domestic level.
The international community did take action. In this context, we must shed light on the initiatives taken by the United Nations organizations and the plea made by international organizations to contain the crisis on the ground. The United Nations agencies active in Lebanon, along with many other bodies and missions, developed visions and plans and proceeded with the implementation phase in partnership with other international and local organizations and public institutions. In this regard, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) conducted a comprehensive survey in Beirut, especially in the affected areas, in order to estimate the losses. The UNDP also developed a plan to support the initiatives set up to provide social and financial protection for Beirut residents, carried out an assessment of the extent of destruction and the environmental damage incurred, and provided legal assistance as well in cooperation with the Bar Association.
As for the World Health Organization, it launched a plea to shed light on the fact that the explosion occurred amidst the spread of Coronavirus. Therefore, it emphasized the double duty in meeting the needs of Beirut residents affected by two tragedies at the same time. The WHO also developed a plan to overcome the trauma and furnish surgical and medical supplies. It mobilized active civil medical organizations to provide treatment for the wounded and, in response to a request made by the Lebanese Ministry of Health, equipped units specialized in the mental and emotional well-being. Besides, the WHO cooperated with other international organizations to provide temporary shelters and cash donations to those affected by the explosion.
UN-Women noted the multiplier effect of this explosion on women. The organization launched a rapid response and called to allocate a significant part of the aid to women, especially those in charge of their families.
The International Labor Organization ILO, as part of its intensive recruitment program, created 100 urgent jobs reserved for Lebanese and refugees who have lost their jobs due to the explosion. Most of these jobs have to do with removing the rubble and providing relief aid to the most affected areas. With the Beirut Municipality's help, the ILO is trying to reach the most affected areas in terms of job losses, conduct the appropriate survey, and provide cash assistance, in cooperation with other UN committees. The World Food Program also has its plan to distribute cash assistance to families in need of food and support local food distributors to deliver food products not available. The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, has allocated $4.4 million for medical, psychological, financial, and housing assistance to children and youths and provided an adequate quantity of clean water for families. It also launched programs to get young people more involved in cleaning up the city. Through its emergency unit, UN-Habitat cooperated with other United Nations agencies to develop a plan for the reconstruction of demolished houses and for the provision of shelter for the many families who have lost their homes, partially or entirely. It also launched an initiative to collect the rubble that cannot be recycled to safely bury it, avoiding therefore previous bad practices in this matter. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR has allocated $35 million to help citizens, refugees, and migrants secure shelter and protection in the months to come.
The UNESCO statement focused on the enormous cultural and architectural damage and called for many meetings to be held with the Ministry of Culture and specialized organizations. The purpose is to assess the extent of these damages and channel efforts towards urging the international donor community to rescue and restore the threatened Lebanese heritage.
It is noteworthy that the work carried out by these organizations is primarily a relief operation, which would lift this burden off the shoulder of the Lebanese civil society, who should remain focused on its responsibility in seeking development and demanding accountability.
In parallel, many statements were heard at the international level expressing a willingness to stand by the Lebanese people. Many countries, especially Arab countries, sent immediately field hospitals and various aids, which showed that, on the regional and international level alike, there is no clear "understanding" of the extent of the tragedy that accompanied or resulted from the disaster itself. Assistance included food, medicine, raw materials, and petroleum products. Some countries also expressed their willingness to rebuild some facilities, such as the Kuwaiti initiative to reconstruct the destroyed wheat silos. Unfortunately, no official comment was released from any Lebanese political authority in this regard. A Qatari initiative was also launched to restore and repair damaged public schools. The initiative will handle the project directly without going through the Lebanese authorities. Several French initiatives were announced. Most of them will focus on the restoration of damaged old homes.
Many Lebanese demanded that any aid to the Lebanese state and its organs be stopped immediately; instead, assistance can be delivered directly to civil society associations present on the ground. This plea was approved by a wide range of Lebanese who lost confidence in the authority's capacities in managing the situation. Other Lebanese not only lost faith in the authority but in the associations as well. Besides, there were rumors that the Lebanese authorities have seized humanitarian aids and sold them in the market. Whether true or not, the news has spread panic among the Lebanese people, a fact that raises serious questions about the extent of mistrust between the people and the authority. This mistrust stems from previous painful experiences involving disasters' bad management and the chaos in distributing humanitarian aids. The experience dates back to the civil war and extends to the port disaster. In this case, the responsibility falls on the agencies providing help to secure safe delivery channels that will lead to the people who need it most. The question remains whether the international community in intervening so might be leading to the reproduction of the same ruling class. The humanitarian aids might boost the Lebanese authority in power, which will also gain international legitimacy and, therefore, the ability to survive just like it did in the past. Or, will the international community intervene only to a certain extent that will not affect the attempts to change, should they take place?