Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Saturday that a Lebanese ministerial committee tasked with solving the country’s waste management emergency did not act yet despite a four-month trash crisis in the north.
“The ministerial committee should urgently study the roadmap submitted by the Environment Ministry on June 3, 2019, aimed at implementing the new solid waste management law and submit a final draft to the cabinet that would protect everyone’s right to health,” according to the non-governmental organization.
Lama Fakih, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch said the government has had four months to find a solution to the North’s trash crisis, but it is still dragging its feet and relying on temporary half-measures.
“Residents in the north are paying the price for the government’s continued failure to manage the country’s waste.”
The Aadoueh dumpsite, an unregulated open dump that had been used by the northern districts of Minieh-Dinnieh, Koura, Zgharta, and Bcharre for 17 years, was closed by the owner on April 5.
Local media reported that some residents in the north are burning the waste that has piled up on the sidewalks and in some instances blocked streets, endangering the health of nearly 330,000 people.
Following a cabinet session held on Saturday, LBC television quoted Environment Minister Fadi Jreissati as saying that a solution to the Terbol garbage landfill should be either to expanding the old landfill or to find another location, which lies one kilometer away from the first one.
Residents had objected to this plan, saying that it would be an “environmental catastrop Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Saturday that a Lebanese ministerial committee tasked with solving the country’s waste management emergency did not act yet despite a four-month trash crisis in the north.
“The ministerial committee should urgently study the roadmap submitted by the Environment Ministry on June 3, 2019, aimed at implementing the new solid waste management law and submit a final draft to the cabinet that would protect everyone’s right to health,” according to the non-governmental organization.
Lama Fakih, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch said the government has had four months to find a solution to the North’s trash crisis, but it is still dragging its feet and relying on temporary half-measures.
“Residents in the north are paying the price for the government’s continued failure to manage the country’s waste.”
The Aadoueh dumpsite, an unregulated open dump that had been used by the northern districts of Minieh-Dinnieh, Koura, Zgharta, and Bcharre for 17 years, was closed by the owner on April 5.
Local media reported that some residents in the north are burning the waste that has piled up on the sidewalks and in some instances blocked streets, endangering the health of nearly 330,000 people.
Following a cabinet session held on Saturday, LBC television quoted Environment Minister Fadi Jreissati as saying that a solution to the Terbol garbage landfill should be either to expanding the old landfill or to find another location, which lies one kilometer away from the first one.
Residents had objected to this plan, saying that it would be an “environmental catastrophe” and that “they will not accept the establishment of a landfill at the expense of the health of residents.”
HRW said the cabinet should not agree to landfill expansions or new landfills without first ensuring that adequate environmental assessments have been carried out,” Human Rights Watch said.
Residents across Lebanon have told Human Rights Watch they have lost faith in the government’s ability to manage waste in a way that is not detrimental to their health and environment.
“Lebanon’s residents have a right to a healthy environment, yet the Lebanese government has continuously failed to uphold its international obligations to protect that right,” Fakih said. “If Lebanon is to avoid another trash catastrophe in the next few weeks, the ministerial committee needs to act quickly.”
he” and that “they will not accept the establishment of a landfill at the expense of the health of residents.”
HRW said the cabinet should not agree to landfill expansions or new landfills without first ensuring that adequate environmental assessments have been carried out,” Human Rights Watch said.
Residents across Lebanon have told Human Rights Watch they have lost faith in the government’s ability to manage waste in a way that is not detrimental to their health and environment.
“Lebanon’s residents have a right to a healthy environment, yet the Lebanese government has continuously failed to uphold its international obligations to protect that right,” Fakih said. “If Lebanon is to avoid another trash catastrophe in the next few weeks, the ministerial committee needs to act quickly.”
