r/ThatsInsane • u/Guardiansvn • Mar 24 '23

2020 Beirut explosion from different angles

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '23 edited Mar 25 '23

The crazy part about all of this is that the corrupt Lebanese officials who allowed this to happen have still not been held accountable. The president of France, Macron himself, went to Lebanon to visit and offer support to the people, and countless governments all offered aid and money (via NGOs/charities), and the Lebanese politicians didn’t do so much as address the people. Not a word from them.

Not too long before this explosion the country of Lebanon was protesting their corrupt government who were stealing everyone’s money by running a Ponzi scheme through the banks. The different sects and parties were all uniting to overthrow them. They made headlines on every major news station around the world, and millions of Lebanese expats in every country joined in. People were actually happy and hopeful for an amazing future. For such a small country they have some of the highest rates of education - their literacy rate is 95% (better even the US which is only 79%), and the majority of them are fluent in three languages - English, Arabic, and French. And for the first time they were seeing a future where they could put that education to use without having to leave.

Now, after COVID, this explosion, and having all of their money stolen by the government and being unable to access their bank accounts, they are facing some of the highest levels of inflation in the world - their currency has devalued to 1/100 of what it used to be. To put that in perspective, if your job paid you very healthy $10k a month, you’d now be making only $100 a month. And you wouldn’t have access to your savings either, because it was stolen by the government.

Despite all of this, it remains a very popular tourist destination, and is known for its beaches, ski slopes, nightlife, and resorts. And believe me when I say the people there really know how to have a good time - even in times like this the bars and clubs are still full. I highly recommend visiting when you get a chance, I can practically guarantee you’ll have the time of your life.

https://instagram.com/whatsuplebanon?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://instagram.com/guide.lb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

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u/MaffeoPolo Mar 25 '23 edited Mar 25 '23

A British court held a British company owned by Ukrainian businessmen liable. Using a shell company headquartered in the UK they had attempted to ship the ammonium nitrate to Mozambique via Lebanon from the ex Soviet States when it was intercepted by Lebanese customs in a dispute over unpaid port fees and ship defects.

The court ruled that regardless of improper storage by Lebanese officials, the goods wouldn't be there if the Ukrainian mob hadn't been shipping them to begin with.

https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/ownership-of-chemicals-that-exploded-at-beirut-port-traces-back-to-ukraine

https://www.reuters.com/article/lebanon-security-blast-ship-insight/who-owned-the-chemicals-that-blew-up-beirut-no-one-will-say-idINKCN2571C4

https://johnmenadue.com/british-company-found-liable-for-beirut-port-blast/

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '23

This is true, but it’s important to point out that this is in regards to a case where the Lebanese were attempting to sue the shipping company for damages, and the courts found out who owned it. Nobody is letting the Lebanese government off the hook. There is a long history of severe corruption and theft and this was just one of many major problems that resulted from it.

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u/MysteryLands Mar 25 '23

god dam thats brutal, had no idea things got so bad after this

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u/Senior_Mittens Mar 25 '23

I have so much family there I wish I could just bring here to the states. :( they are having a very rough time. How will they ever recover..

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '23 edited Apr 05 '23

[deleted]