Khazen

by news.un.org -- The extent of the devastation has drawn comparisons within Lebanon, to the horrors endured by the residents of Hiroshima in 1945, after one of the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of World War Two, raised the Japanese city to the ground, killing tens of thousands. Locals refer to the infamous day on August 4, 2020, as “Beirut-shima”. UN News is travelling with UN chief António Guterres, and in a tweet during a hectic day of meetings and ​events, he paid tribute to the victims of last year's Beirut Port blast, stressing that "an impartial and transparent investigation into this tragic event is crucial to ensure justice.” For him, “the Lebanese people deserve the truth.” According to seismologists, the pressure of the explosion was equivalent to an earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale.

The first explosion occurred at 6:08 pm local time, after a fire broke out in a storage area containing a large amount of ammonium, followed by another massive explosion that caused great damage to the port, and large areas of the city. The explosions killed some 217 people, injured more than 6,000, and displaced around 300,000 families, with losses estimated in the billions of dollars. In his remarks in the Lebanese capital to journalists, including UN News, the Secretary-General spoke about his visit to the Harbor, saying it was a very emotional moment. “The suffering of the people, first of all, those that perished, their families, the wounded, the dramatic impact in the lives of so many people is something that of course generates very deep solidarity”. On the other hand, he noted that he had been receiving messages from many victims demanding “the need for truth to be established, for the need for an independent investigation, that is able to produce that truth.” He said he fully understands their concerns and hoped that the country’s institutions will be able to guarantee that the truth will come to light.

لقاء تعارف ودي مع السيدة يمنى بشير الجميل حضرت خلاله الاوضاع العامة في البلاد وشخصية الرئيس الشهيد الاستثنائية ومواقفه الشجاعة. وقد جرى …

(Reuters) – Lebanon could reach a preliminary agreement for financial support with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between January and February, the …

“I have come with a simple message: the UN stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon,” UN chief Antonio Guterres (left) told a press conference with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.“I have come with a simple message: the UN stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon,” UN chief Antonio Guterres (left) told a press conference with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.“I have come with a simple message: the UN stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon,” UN chief Antonio Guterres (left) told a press conference with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.UN leader says more aid needed for crisis-hit Lebanon - The San Diego  Union-Tribune“I have come with a simple message: the UN stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon,” UN chief Antonio Guterres (left) told a press conference with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.

by AFP -- “I have come with a simple message: the UN stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon,” Guterres told a press conference with Lebanese President Michel Aoun. “Seeing the suffering of the people of Lebanon, Lebanese political leaders do not have the right to be divided and paralyse the country,” he added. He said the objective of his meetings would be “to discuss how we can best support the Lebanese people to overcome the current economic and financial crisis and to promote peace, stability and sustainable development”. Lebanon is in the throes of an economic meltdown dubbed by the World Bank as among the planet’s worst since the 1850s.

It is widely blamed on nepotism and corruption among the country’s ruling class. Around 80 percent of Lebanon’s population is now estimated to be living under the poverty line. “Lebanese people also expect their political leaders to restore the economy, provide the functioning government and state institutions,” Guterres said. Cabinet has failed to meet since mid-October because of infighting, in particular over the judge charged with investigating the catastrophic August 2020 explosion at Beirut’s port that killed at least 215 people, injured thousands and devastated swathes of the capital. The UN chief urged politicians to work together to resolve the crisis and called on the international community “to strengthen its support to Lebanon”.

Khazen History

Historical Feature:
Churches and Monasteries of the Khazen family