BEIRUT - Sleep Comfort survived Lebanon’s 15-year civil war. But nothing could have prepared the high-end family furniture business for the Beirut port blast that destroyed swathes of the capital.
The biggest blast in Beirut’s history killed at least 170 people, injured 6,000 and triggered protests against a political elite blamed for political turmoil and economic collapse. Homes and businesses were razed in the country’s commercial heart.The Aug. 4 explosion dealt a catastrophic blow to everyone from mechanics to major food importers, already struggling amid a financial crisis that hammered the currency and sent unemployment soaring.
“The government decided that anything in the port has to be analysed for ammonium nitrate residues ... Everything is at a standstill. There is nobody to answer us,” said Hani Bohsali, general manager of Bohsali Foods SAL and president of Lebanon’s food importers syndicate.He said the 52 companies in the Syndicate of Importers of Foodstuffs, Consumer Products and Drinks could suffer losses of no less than $50-60 million.
The government, which quit this week over the blast, had launched talks with the IMF for a bailout but they were put on hold due to an internal row over the scale of financial losses.Insurance firms have taken a hit. “Definitely, the government resignation will help, but the government is not enough. Lebanon needs a complete reform to recover.”
Do you mean the Beirut booming?
My heart goes out to the people in Lebanon. Anyone can believe just two explosions put over 300,000 people homeless and many suffered lost their love one. Stay positive safe and stay strong