BEIRUT BLASTS : A TRAGEDY IN AN ONGOING PANDEMIC

More than a hundred people died and more than 4000 were injured in the massive explosion that took place in Beirut, Lebanon.
The two explosions in the central port area of Beirut occurred within minutes of each other. The blast affected residents living as far as 10 kilometers from the site and was felt up to 250 kilometers.

Scientists Map Beirut Blast Damage https://t.co/ZN5rrcc2ES #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/w3AAVCuN2z

— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) August 11, 2020

The blasts were caused due to the massive amount of ammonium nitrate that was being stored by the authorities for more than half a decade. The blast had added a burden to the country’s health system in this pandemic. Nationwide protests were seen against the government. The blast has and will lead the country into an economic crisis as the country is an import-dependent country. The port that was damaged is Lebanon’s largest maritime gateway.

#Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah suggested that #Israel could be to blame for the #Beirut blasts, and called on not just Hezbollah, but all of Lebanon to respond, if Lebanese investigations were to find out the Jewish State was behind the incident.https://t.co/s87XwnD9z7

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) August 15, 2020

Lebanon has been offered help by the likes of the USA, Germany, France, Iran, the EU, Turkey, etc. Even Israel came to help Lebanon instead of their bitter relations.

This tragedy piles yet another layer of hardship on a country already reeling from its worst financial crisis in decades along with a political turbulence and struggling to contain the ongoing pandemic. It is time that international solidarity comes into action and extends a helping hand towards the country.