EU offers trade perks as Lebanon in economic jeopardy
August 6, 2020
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said trade benefits were being explored after Beirut's port blast. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in the Lebanese capital hoping to foster a global response.
Image: picture-alliance/Xinhua/B. Jawich
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The European Union offered preferential trade to Lebanon on Thursday as the Middle Eastern country's state and central bank face financial meltdown in the wake of the port explosion in Beirut.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was ready to step in to aid Lebanon with preferential trade and customs backing. She made the announcement after a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab in which von der Leyen pledged €33 million ($39 million) in emergency aid.
"The Commission stood ready to explore how to boost our trade relations in this challenging time, in particular in the form of further preferential trade and customs facilitation," von der Leyen said in a statement.
The EU has already sent more than 100 firefighters and a military vessel for medical evacuation to the Lebanese capital.
Tuesday's blast killed at least 137 people, wounding 5,000 more and has left up to 300,000 citizens homeless. Beirut's port was destroyed, causing up to $15 billion (€12.6 billion) in damage.
In pictures: Beirut blast aftermath — destruction, chaos and protests
A powerful explosion rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut, killing at least 150 people and injuring thousands more. Residents have taken to the streets to demand government reforms and resignations over the blast.
Image: Getty Images/D. Carde
Panic in Beirut
Two immense blasts shook Beirut and the surrounding areas of the Lebanese capital, prompting panic as residents rushed to safety. "I have never in my life seen a disaster this big," Beirut's governor told local TV.
Image: Reuters/M. Azakir
Blasts felt in city's outskirts
The explosions, centered in Beirut's port region, were felt throughout the capital. Even residents in the city's outskirts reported hearing the blast, with some saying their windows were shattered.
Image: Reuters/K. Sokhn
Dozens killed, thousands injured
Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least 100 people were killed and more than 4,000 others were injured.
Image: Reuters/M. Azakir
'Unacceptable' ammonium nitrate stock
Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that a large stockpile of 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate in a warehouse at the port had caused the second, larger explosion. "It is unacceptable that a shipment of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate has been present for six years in a warehouse, without taking preventive measures," Diab said.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/STR
Race to save survivors
More than 30 Red Cross teams raced to the scene, with many locals lending a hand to aid rescue efforts. Hospitals warned that they were quickly filled beyond capacity — and called for blood donations as well as generators to help keep the electricity on.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/H. Shbaro
Felt as far away as Cyprus
The blasts struck with the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, according to Germany's
geosciences center GFZ. Residents in Cyprus, some 110 miles (180 km) across the sea from Beirut, reported hearing and feeling the blast.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/STR
People are 'asking for their loved ones'
DW's Bassel Aridi said people were using social media to try to track down their loved ones after the explosions. Aridi also visited a hospital in Beirut after the blasts. "What I saw in the hospital was so dramatic. All the hospitals have announced that they are totally overloaded."
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/H. Ammar
Two-week state of emergency
Lebanese authorities fear many more people are buried beneath rubble. President Michel Aoun scheduled an emergency Cabinet meeting for Wednesday and said a two-week state of emergency should be declared.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/STR
Lebanon faces double-blow
The devastating blasts come as Lebanon experiences severe economic turbulence, with many people taking to the streets in recent months to protest the financial situation. Prime Minister Hassan Diab declared that Wednesday would be a national day of mourning for the victims of the explosion.
Image: Getty Images/D. Carde
Protesters demand reforms and resignations
Thousands of protesters took to the streets four days after the explosion, blaming the blast on government corruption and mismanagement boiling. Protesters demanded government resignations and fresh elections, with many occupying government ministries. Police responded with tear gas.
Image: Reuters/G. Tomasevic
First resignation
Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad became the first government minister to resign in the wake of the blast, five days after it took place. "After the enormous Beirut catastrophe, I announce my resignation from government," she said in a statement carried by local media. She apologized to the people of Beirut for failing them.
Image: Getty Images/AFP
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Very limited financial capacity
Von der Leyen pledged to help in assessing Beirut's reconstruction, as well as support in discussions with international financial institutions to access further financial aid.
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This assistance appears imperative at a time when the Lebanese state and central bank have "very limited" financial capacity to cope with the impact of the explosion, its economy minister said.
Raoul Nehme told Sky News Arabia: "The capacity of the state is very limited, and so is that of the central bank and the banks. He added: "We're not swimming in dollars."
He said working with the International Monetary Fund was the only way out for Lebanon, which was already wrestling with a dollar crunch and financial meltdown before Tuesday's blast.
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Macron seeks global effort
French President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to coordinate international assistance upon arrival in Beirut.
Macron, who is the first foreign leader to visit the Lebanese capital since the port warehouse explosion, said: "I want to organize European cooperation and, more broadly, international cooperation."
The French president will only stay for a few hours as he surveyed the port in its current state. He also met with the country's top officials.
France has long sought to support its former colony and is sending emergency aid, but diplomats say it has become increasingly concerned about corruption, while pressing for reforms for some time.
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the site of the explosion that killed at least 137 people and wounded some 5,000 othersImage: Reuters/Tele Liban
Red Cross future fears
The International Committee of the Red Cross spokesperson, Rona Halabi, said in an interview with DW that the humanitarian organization were looking into ways of facilitating the movement of goods coming into the country, hoping to use other ports, though recognizing those import areas have a limited capacity.
Halabi also feared for the long-term ramifications on Lebanon's already buckling economy, with a potential return of the unrest witnessed last year.
"We're talking about protests that happened in October and economic crisis, dire economic conditions," she said, before adding that the country's "health system is already stretched because of the COVID-19 pandemic."
Humanitarian aid needed in Beirut: Raymond Tarabay (Malteser International) speaks to DW
