Violence erupted in Beirut last night after thousands of Lebanese protesters gathered in mourning and in anger near the site of last year’s devastating explosion in Beirut’s port, demanding justice for the victims.
Relatives holding pictures of loved ones and children who died in the blast were among those coming together to hold prayers and vent frustration at the country’s leaders on the anniversary of a tragedy that claimed more than 200 lives and destroyed much of the capital.
There were clashes between protesters and security forces in downtown Beirut, with demonstrators throwing rocks, fireworks and petrol bombs at the empty seat of parliament, and security forces firing volleys of tear gas into the crowd. According to the Lebanese Red Cross, 13 people were taken to hospital and 71 were treated at the scene.
Lebanon has been without a functioning government for nearly a year since the disaster and no senior official has been held to account, infuriating many Lebanese as their country endures financial collapse.
President Macron of France, who has led Western pressure for reform in Lebanon, hosted a virtual conference on Wednesday attended by world leaders and backed by the Pope.
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Macron said France would donate a further €100 million (£85 million) in emergency aid and 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine. But he criticised the country’s sectarian politicians, who have taken no steps towards reforms that might ease the economic crisis, while haggling over cabinet posts.
“Lebanese leaders seem to bet on a stalling strategy, which I regret, and I think is a historic and moral failure,” he said.
The Pope wished Macron success and said donors should help Lebanon “on a path of resurrection”. He said he had a great desire to visit Lebanon, where many had lost “even the illusion of living”. President Biden also pledged $100 million in additional humanitarian aid.
A Human Rights Watch report released this week concluded there was strong evidence to suggest Lebanese officials knew about and tacitly accepted the lethal risks posed by more than 500 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in unsafe conditions at the port.
One of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded caused catastrophic damage across Beirut when the chemicals were ignited accidentally by a fire. The blast was heard 100 miles away in Cyprus.
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The port still resembles a bomb site, its huge wrecked grain silo unrepaired, along with much of the city centre.
Many Lebanese have fled the country as the local currency has depreciated by 90 per cent and there are shortages of medicines and fuel. Many struggle to afford food and basic goods.
A huge banner on a building overlooking the port on Wednesday spoke for many of those that remain. “Hostages of a Murderous State,” it said.
