Lebanon marks four years since Beirut port blast

Lebanon is observing the fourth anniversary of the devastating explosion at the Beirut port, which claimed the lives of over 220 individuals.

As of today, no one has been held accountable for the tragic event on August 4, 2020. This explosion, one of the most massive non-nuclear blasts ever recorded, resulted in injuries to at least 6,500 people and caused extensive damage to large areas of the city.

According to authorities, the explosion occurred due to a fire in a warehouse that had been storing a large quantity of ammonium nitrate fertilizer under unsafe conditions for several years.

The investigation into the incident has faced numerous delays due to legal and political obstacles.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, expressed her frustration in a statement on Saturday, stating, “The complete lack of accountability for such a man-made disaster is staggering.” She urged the authorities to “remove all impediments” to ensure “an impartial, thorough, and transparent investigation that brings truth, justice, and accountability.”

In December 2020, Fadi Sawan, the lead investigator at the time, charged former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and three ex-ministers with negligence. However, political pressures led to his removal from the case. His successor, Tarek Bitar, has also faced challenges, including failed attempts to have parliamentary immunity lifted for former cabinet ministers.

The investigation remains at a standstill.

Despite calls from activists for a UN-led fact-finding mission, Lebanese officials have consistently opposed such measures.

Image credit: Hussein Malla