Blame the incompetence and neglect of a corrupt and broken state for the blast that destroyed a large part of Beirut
the explosion that rocked Beirut on August 4th that people in Cyprus, 240km away, thought they had suffered an earthquake. Scores of people died and thousands were injured in the blast, which left the port in ruins. The Lebanese government says it was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which can be used as fertiliser or as an explosive . This appears to have been confiscated years ago from an abandoned Russian-owned cargo ship heading to Mozambique.
That much was clear even before the explosion showered Beirut with broken glass and pieces of rubble. For months Lebanon has been mired in a debilitating economic crisis, because of a rotten banking sector and a collapsing currency. The Lebanese pound has lost about 80% of its value on the black market against the dollar. Because Lebanon imports so much, inflation has spiked. The government defaulted on its debts months ago.
Most Lebanese want to ditch the power-sharing system. Ever fewer feel defined by their religion. Big protests in October forced out the previous government, which was also incompetent. The current one entered office promising change, but has accomplished little.
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