The helpless silence of the families of the victims and the silence of Pope Leo next to “Warehouse No. 12” in the port of Beirut echoed throughout Lebanon this Tuesday as if A cry of denunciation against the political class that prevents clarification … What happened?. Five years have passed since the explosion, but the smell of the fire in this place has not left the memory of these people, as those who remember their deceased with tears asked the Supreme Pontiff to help them find out the truth about what happened and for the guilty to bear their responsibilities.
In the port, time seems to have stopped since August 4, 2020 at 6:07 p.m., when 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded Which was stored for six years in silos without security measures. At least he claimed the incident It claimed the lives of 218 people and injured 6,500 people There was enormous material damage in this city – 300,000 people were left homeless. Around the silo you can see accumulated debris, cables, iron and completely destroyed vehicles. All that was added was an olive tree and a marble plaque bearing the names of the victims.
It was the highlight of the Pope’s trip to Lebanon, where about 60 people of all ages were waiting for him, including a baby just a few months old. Some showed injuries to their eyes and arms. Others, pictures of fathers, brothers, sons and daughters that the explosion took from them. “One of my children died here, and another lost his feet,” says the elegant woman, Danam Basif Bata, who came in a wheelchair. «I hope the Pope will help us figure out what happened“Why did so many people die, it’s the only thing we need,” he says before his voice breaks, then asks to write the name of his son, Abdul Bata.
Tatiana Hasruti holds a photo of her father, Hassan. “He was working here and his building collapsed and he lost his life.” He says this silent gesture from Leon “will help them bear the pain. Pope Francis also gave us hope because.” He told us that he knew our pain». He says goodbye: “What happened unites us, Christians and Muslims. We are united in prayer and in the hope that the truth will emerge.” Nihad Abdo holds a laminated photo of his nephew Jack Pramakian, who looks at the camera with his tousled blond hair with an energetic look. “Jack was my nephew, and he lived in that white building,” he says, pointing to some relics. “He was in his house and there he died as a result of the explosion. His partner also died. We found out from the pictures. “It was terrible, very difficult.” «We want the truthI know who is responsible. “I hope today is the right day,” he pleads.
Next to the memorial, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was waiting for the Pope, who received him and accompanied him from a safe distance. Leon seemed affected by the desolation of this place, and He prayed in silence for several minutes Which has become endless. Then he approached the plaque bearing the names of the deceased, where they had laid a wreath of red flowers, opened his arms and whispered a prayer, perhaps an Our Father. After that, he went to the families of the victims and the injured to dry their tears. He didn’t say anything, and there was no need for words.
The incident was the culmination of a series of corruption-triggered crises that led first to hyperinflation, then to the collapse of the Lebanese economy, and which shattered its dream of being like Switzerland but in the Middle East. A few days after the explosion, then-President Michel Aoun ruled out the need for an international investigation to find those responsible. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel last year, did not see the need for this. but It is a wound that does not heal in time. It’s been five years and she hasn’t healed.