BEIRUT, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- For the third consecutive day, Lebanon's civil defense, in cooperation with the Lebanese army, worked hard to put out the huge fires that swept a big number of Lebanese villages. Fires continued on Wednesday to affect hundreds of square meters in Akkar, Yanouh, Daqoun, Bekfaya and other villages. Earlier in the day, Lebanese President Michel Aoun announced that the Higher Relief Commission had been instructed to compensate people affected by the fires. Prime Minister Saad Hariri said the government exerted huge efforts to put out the fires while the Higher Relief Commission will take care of all houses impacted by the fires. "We are working 24 hours a day and the most important thing for me is that there were no casualties," he said. However, Lebanese citizens criticized the government through social media networks for not providing civil defense with the needed equipment to deal properly with such disastrous situations. They also blamed the government for not taking precautionary measures after the sudden rise of temperature to avoid the fires and the damage. Youssef Mallah, a member of the civil defense, told Xinhua that precautionary measures must be taken in such weather conditions. "For instance, we should not allow hunters to shoot from their weapons in such times," he said, explaining that shots from hunters' guns have a hot temperature and may cause fire when they fall on the ground. Camping must be also forbidden in such times, he added. Mallah emphasized the need to hire patrols to tour the place all night long while finding special routes for firefighters to reach fires in a fast way and not to use conventional roads.

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by gulftoday.ae - Maryam Al QasimiMassive fires took over Lebanon’s pine-tree covered mountains, forcing citizens in Al Shouf District to evacuate their homes on Monday night. Strong winds and unusual high temperatures intensified the blaze, as it made its way to residential villages, a refugee centre, and neighbouring areas. “Our forests burn and our hearts break just the same,” says a Lebanese citizen, Mansour. As Lebanon faces its first massive wildfire in years, reporter Halima Tabiaa cries in desperation, “The scene in Damour is dreadful. People are screaming, as the fire trapped them in their homes.”

Director-general of Civil Defence, Raymond Khattar, has said that the wildfire is the most drastic the country has seen for decades. Al-Khattar states that 104 fires have been recorded on Monday and Tuesday. Lebanon’s Interior Minister Raya Al Hassan confirms the assistance of neighbouring countries, Cyprus, Greece, and Jordan. “We have contacted several countries that could help us put out the fires and the Cypriot planes have been working to extinguish the fires since yesterday. We have activated a rapid response mechanism.” she tweets. “Greece has also answered our call and will send two planes to help. Jordan has also expressed its readiness to send us assistance.”

Lebanese political analysist David Issa states that the wildfire expanded due to the government’s lack of emergency response and ill-equipment of Sikorsky helicopters. Three Sikorsky S-70 firefighting helicopters were provided to the Lebanese government, but fell into poor condition due to a lack of maintenance. Frustrated citizens took to Twitter: “Houses have been destroyed, acres of trees have been razed. We don’t have the necessary equipment and tools to fight the raging wildfires. We need International help” (@romyjournalist). “We pray for our brave Civil Defence fighters and our military,” Issa states on social media.

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