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Tuesday August 4, 2020 at 6:08 PM marked a catastrophe in Lebanon's capital - Beirut.
A massive warehouse explosion at the port, devastated many parts of the city Beirut,
killing at least 170 people and injuring more than 4,000 with more than 1oo people still
unaccounted for. The shock wave was hear and felt across the whole country from North to South
reaching neighbor countries such as Syria and Cyprus.
What are the reasons that led to the explosion - What happened? The explosion that took place at
the port warehouse happened due to the presence of highly explosive and chemical materials - it
is marked to be the utmost intense ever in Beirut. president Michel Aoun added:”2,700 tons of
ammonium nitrate, used in fertilizers and bombs, had been stored for six years at the port
without safety measures".
The reasons behind the explosion are still ambiguous, however investigations are still ongoing.
official news confirms the start of a fire after which fire-works were called to extinguish.
After minutes, the devastating catastrophe happened and the fire-workers in addition to hundreds
and thousands were injured and killed, and physical damage covers the radius of Beirut city,
reaching to its suburbs Glass, doors, windows, cars and inside houses are severely damaged,
making them inhabitable. Thousands of families abandoned their badly damaged homes.
From which some spent the night at friends, relatives and empty schools whereas others still
are recorded as homeless.
Hospitals all over Beirut are fully occupied asking the ambulances to take the injured ones to
hospitals located at the capital's suburbs. Doctors has been witnessed treating wounded citizens
in nearby streets and parking under cell phone lights. People shedding blood were seen rushing
and screaming for aid in clouds of smoke and dust in streets littered with damaged buildings,
flying wreckage, and destroyed cars.
The smoke from the blast contains lots of toxic particles and gases. The most dangerous are the
fine particles that cannot be stopped by regular masks and the gases like No2 and all its
organic
derivatives that will linger and react in the air for a while. Hence, urging people to leave
Beirut to stay safe for such toxic gases. A bomb adding to the already present health and
economic crisis!
SPF were the first to support and they mobilized 100,00 euros in response to the devasting
explosion in Beirut. DPNA, in collaboration with Secours populaire, Tajamoh Platform in
Saida and Saida's Municipality have divided their resources into teams that are supporting the
cleaning and food distribution campaigns in Beirut, as well as the fundraising and donation
collections
which consist of clothes, food, mattresses, and pillows in Saida.
