10 Important Facts About the Beirut Blast
8 Corruption is Bigger than the State – Prime Minister Hassan Diab
As the public anger mounted, in an effort to bring order and also take responsibility for this harrowing event, the entire Lebanon government resigned on August 10, 2020. It is to be noted that within a single year, Lebanon has cycled through three regime changes.
While President Michael Aoun accepted their resignation, he has asked the government to stay in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced the resignation of the government to appease mounting public anger via national television. He said the government would follow the will of the people and stand with them during these troubled times.
Speaking about the corruption, he said it was more significant than the state and continued to state, âa very thick and thorny wall separates us from change; a wall fortified by a class that is resorting to all dirty methods in order to resist and preserve its gains.” (1, 2)
9 Countries Across the World Rally Behind Lebanon in Support After the Explosion
As Lebanon implodes in the wake of the Beirut Blast, nations across the world rally behind it in human solidarity.
Owing to their proximity, the Gulf States were the first to rush to the countryâs aid. Qatar and Kuwait sent medical aid in the form of doctors and medical amenities that the country desperately needed in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and the explosion.
Greece and Algeria sent humanitarian aid along with medical supplies. Rescuers and firefighters from the countries rushed to help out in Beirut right after the blast.
European nations like France, the UK, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Poland offered assistance in the form of doctors, firefighters, rescue experts, sniffer dogs, and medical supplies.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beirut in person and conducted a video-conference with world leaders to urge them to send emergency aid to Lebanon. World donors pledged 253 million euros through the IMF to aid disaster-struck Lebanon.
Among the nations that were rushing to Lebanonâs aid, the most notable was Israel. Despite the hostile relationship between the two countries, Israel has offered aid to Lebanon through international intermediaries in a nice gesture of humanity. (1, 2, 3, 4)
10 The Spirit of Humanity Burns Brighter
Following the Beirut Blast, there were many instances in which the spirit of humanity shone through to the survivors of the explosion. Here are a few of those moments:
Pamela Zeinoun, a neo-natal nurse, heroically saved three babies following the explosion when the hospital she was working in was devastated by the blast. She has become a beacon of resilience in the wake of Beirut Blast. It is to be noted that she walked five kilometers to get the babies out of the blast zone.
Heroic nurse rushes to save three newborn babies when the explosion went off. These are the people we owe everything to. pic.twitter.com/io5ua6PC1D
— Beirut.com (@BeirutCityGuide) August 4, 2020
Moments before the explosion, Crystal Sawaya gave birth to a healthy baby boy. When the explosion shook the Al Roum Hospital in Beirut, her husband, Jad, protected the baby. The Sawaya family has become a symbol of hope for the Beirut people in these troubled times.
https://twitter.com/AsaadHannaa/status/1292086611770056708
Likewise, a video of a man pouring water for an injured pigeon amidst the explosion rubble has also touched countless peoples’ hearts.
https://twitter.com/VivianHYee/status/1291411264363790341
These small moments tell us that the spirit of humanity shines brighter than ever in people during these troubled times. Also, these facts about Beirut Blast allow us to understand the true state of affairs in Lebanon. (1, 2, 3)
Letâs send our prayers and hopes to all the people living in Beirut and give a bow to their undaunted spirit.