Families of the victims of the Aug. 4, 2020 Beirut blast protest Tuesday after the collapse of the north part of the port's wheat silos on Tuesday. The investigation into the port explosion, more than two years on, remains at a stand-still. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)
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Families of the victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion protested yesterday afternoon after the collapse of the last remaining silos in the structure’s northern block earlier in the day. The collapse was deemed “inevitable” by experts, prompting the evacuation of all employees “from the vicinity of the port silos.” Eight silos had fallen since late July as fires raged at the structures for nearly two months, since the start of July. The falling silos spawned a cloud of dust, recalling safety measures issued by the government prior to the initial collapse, after which experts ruled out the presence of toxic materials in the neighboring air. The dust “fortunately traveled toward the sea,” caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said, advising people to wear masks nonetheless and announcing upcoming air quality tests. However, the burnt pungent smell in areas surrounding the port was heavy. The silos in the south block are stable, according to experts, including French civil engineer Emmanuel Durand who has been volunteering alongside a team of experts to study and monitor the structure and who prepared a graphic, obtained by L’Orient Today, showing the fallen silos and those that remain. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati indicated that a decree issued by the government in March to demolish the silos will be revoked, and called on preserving the port silos’ southern bloc as a memorial. The demolition decision in March was met with controversy from port blast victims’ relatives, civil society groups, and certain MPs who proposed laws to preserve the silos. “Today, we will only block the road, but if our demands are not met, the investigation does not take place, and the silos are demolished we will take a bigger step,” a spokesperson for the families said yesterday during a news conference near the silos. William Noun, brother of one of the blast victims, has also spoken out against the demolition while the investigation into the blast remains unresolved. Complaints filed against lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar have repeatedly interrupted the probe, which is currently suspended pending judicial appointments – protested for by the port blast victims’ relatives at the Ministries of Justice and Finance. MPs Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter countered Bitar’s summons as part of the blast investigation by filing recusal requests against the judge. This was later met by a complaint against Khalil and Zeaiter by the Beirut Bar Association accusing the legislators of “us[ing] their rights... in an arbitrary manner by filing complaints intended to hinder the investigation.”
“Seven commercial banks have resumed granting housing and energy loans,” Chairman and general manager of the state-owned Housing Bank Antoine Habib said in a statement extending the deadline for loan applications, which have “reached the thousands,” until the end of September. The loan program was relaunched on June 20 after a three-year halt, financing, in Lebanese lira, real estate, home restoration and solar panel installations “exclusively for Lebanese citizens with low income.” The state’s Council for Development and Reconstruction and the Arab Fund on April 25, 2019, signed an agreement to fund loans, which are additionally financed through “Banque du Liban or some Lebanese and Arab banks,” Habib said. The loans offer up to LL1 billion, LL400 million, or LL200 million for real estate, home restoration and solar panel installations, respectively — although, there is a possibility to modify the loan’s amount if Lebanon receives additional funding, the Housing Bank chairman said.
Judges’ week-long strike will persist after unfruitful communication attempts with officials amid wage-related difficulties in living, social and health conditions. Attendees of a meeting held yesterday at the General Assembly of Judges at Beirut’s Court of Cassation were all reportedly in favor of continuing the strike. Judges previously spoke out against their working conditions, insufficient wages and dilapidated courthouses. Banque du Liban had decided to increase the exchange rate at which judges could withdraw their salaries, then suspended the measure amid backlash from other public sector employees and judges. The Supreme Council of the Judiciary, the Council of State and the Court of Accounts justified the measure, citing “an adequate salary” as an essential condition to “organize the work of judges,” while some members of the judiciary considered the payment policy an unwelcome “bribe.” The monthly salary a judge receives is presently worth between $150 and $350, depending on the judge’s rank when converted from Lebanese lira to dollars at the current parallel market exchange rate.
The inability of many residents “to afford basic communication and internet access will continue to pose challenges to aid actors,” a study conducted by the Lebanon Crisis Analytics Team found, noting a steep drop in calls to humanitarian aid organizations’ helplines in July after the telecommunications price hike. The study notably indicated ramifications on reporting “abuse, corruption and fraud,” while reporting a “noticeable drop in calls to program hotlines,” including those focusing on gender-based violence. The new telecommunications prices, which came into effect on July 1, meant that all subscriptions must be paid in dollars using Banque du Liban’s Sayrafa rate, which as of Monday stood at LL27,100 to the dollar – almost LL7,000 less than the parallel market rate. The government approved the increase in revenue after the lira’s depreciation led to plummeting revenues for telecommunications companies amid elevated operational costs despite the implementation of expense reduction measures. Citizens protested the increase, expressing disbelief at “paying more than triple the amount” as more than 80 percent of citizens are plunged below the poverty line.
In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim, a Sudanese feminist against all odds.”