October 18, 2020

This Week in Human Rights News

 

One Year of Lebanon Protests

Sources: Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye (1, 2)

  • On Saturday, hundreds marched in Beirut to mark the anniversary of the mass uprising against the ruling political parties swept across the country. 

  • There were reports of protests being held in other parts of Lebanon (such as the southern cities of Saida and Nabatieh), and of protesters clashing with riot police in Beirut, with teargas being used. 

since the 2019 protests

  • On October 17, 2019, protests erupted after the government had proposed a tax on WhatsApp calls. 

  • This quickly spread to a nationwide movement demanding an end to a system of confessional power-sharing.

  • Lebanon’s deepest economic downturn since the civil war has led to growing unemployment, poverty and hunger, pushing many to look for better opportunities abroad.

  • The crippling economic crisis has seen the Lebanese pound lose nearly 80% of its value. 

  • The political class has failed to form a new non-partisan government that can meet the demands of protesters.

  • Authorities are also facing international pressure to form a government to try and resolve the country’s multiple crises in order to receive funds desperately needed in the aftermath of the explosion in Beirut’s port. 

Aftermath of beirut explosion

  • Saturday’s protesters held a minute of silence at 6:07 pm, the exact time that nearly 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded in Beirut’s port on August 4th. 

  • This explosion decimated the port and destroyed surrounding parts of the capital, resulting in approximately 200 deaths. 

  • It also left 6,500 wounded and around 300,000 displaced. 

  • The authorities almost completely left the public on its own to deal with the aftermath of the explosion.

  • With no government clean-up crews in the streets and little outreach to those whose homes or businesses were wrecked, grassroots networks quickly mobilised to provide for those displaced, wounded and needing immediate help. 

  • Since then, anger and frustration has only grown. 

Mental health

  • As Lebanon continues to struggle with a crippling economic crisis and political instability, compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, the population’s mental health has been deeply impacted.

  • With many people experiencing trauma, anxiety and depression, there is a higher demand for psychological support. 

  • This has also put increased pressure on doctors, who are themselves dealing with their own personal trauma.

 
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