UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Monday for listening to the voices of the Lebanese people that demand a “credible and transparent investigation” into the deadly explosion in Beirut Port last Tuesday.
“I call for a credible and transparent investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and bring about the accountability demanded by the Lebanese people,” the UN chief said, adding that a long-term political reform was also needed.
At a virtual briefing on Monday, high-level UN officials detailed how the situation is unfolding on the ground and what the Organization is doing to assist.
At a time of both sorrow and prolonged frustration, the UN chief maintained that “the anger of the Lebanese people is palpable” and their voices must be heard.
“The legendary strength of the Lebanese people now faces an additional test”, Guterres said.
Almost a week after the blast produced “a colossal toxic cloud that was visible for miles”, he lamented that “many people remain missing.”
In an instant, the explosion “flattened vital infrastructure and shattered windows near and far”, he stated. “Surrounding neighborhoods were leveled. Many thousands are now homeless.”
Guterres pledged the Organization would continue its support for Beirut and the people of Lebanon “in every possible way” and vowed that the UN would stand in unity to help “alleviate the immediate suffering and support its recovery.”
The UN chief said he’d seen “that spirit yet again”, as neighbors help neighbors clear the streets of broken glass, “opening their homes to those who have lost theirs.”
He called for robust international support for all people in need in Lebanon.
And while thanking those countries that are already providing “tangible financial, material and specialized assistance”, he urged donors to give “speedily and generously.”
Meanwhile, President of the General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande upheld that the devastating impact of last week’s explosion makes it imperative for the international community to stand beside the Lebanese people.
“The people of Lebanon have shown us the true spirit of their proud country”, said Muhammad-Bande. “It is upon us to band together and ensure that they will not have to shoulder this burden alone.”
For his part, World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley confirmed that the damage is “as bad as you can possibly imagine”.
Explaining that 85 per cent of the country’s food is imported and that it came through Beirut Port, he maintained the urgency of quickly getting the port up and running, saying that he believed it could be temporarily operational in two to three weeks.
He informed that within two weeks, WFP will have 17.5 thousand metric tons of wheat flour to put bread on Lebanese tables for roughly 20 days; a 30-day supply of about 30 thousand metric tons that will be brought in after that; and then another 100 thousand metric tons over the subsequent 60 days.