20-013-RO DERF Alert note Port Explosion in Beirut - Danmission (Not Activated)

Danmission has submitted an alert regarding the crisis in Beirut in Lebanon.

The DERF was not activated for the alerted crisis.

On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion at Beirut port took place caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate being stored in a warehouse^[1]. The explosion sent shockwaves across the city and shattering windows as far as 25 km away from the blast site. Buildings at the port area were flattened, and apartments in the nearby popular and densely packed neighborhoods crumbled.The explosion at the Beirut port would have been devastating no matter where or when it took place. However, since October 2019, several drastic changes to the political, social, and economic, financial realities in Lebanon have destabilized all areas of life. Lebanon is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a century, in which many blame the rampant corruption among Lebanon’s ruling political class. In recent months, Lebanon has seen exponential inflation which has made purchasing necessities nearly impossible for even formerly middle-class families. The unemployment rate has increased drastically as well as the COVID-19 pandemic within the last three weeks. Thus, the economic, health, and political crises in Lebanon have left the country under-resourced and less able to respond to other major disasters.

^[1] AFP News Agency, “Lebanon: What we know about deadly Beirut explosion, in 500 words,” Al Jazeera, August 5, 2020. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/lebanon-deadly-beirut-explosion-500-words-200805105001592.html