Two years after the massive explosion in Beirut harbor that killed more than 200 people, independent United Nations experts today called on the international community to open “without delay” an international investigation.
“This tragedy is one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in recent history, yet the world has done nothing to understand what caused it,” said the six experts, who are authorized by the Human Rights Council but do not speak for the United States.
“On this second anniversary of the blast, we are heartbroken that the people of Lebanon are still waiting for justice and we call for an international investigation to be launched without delay,” they added.
The statement is signed by Maurice Tidball-Binge, United Nations Special Envoy on Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions, David Boyd, Special Envoy on Human Rights and the Environment, and Obiora Okafor, Independent Expert on Human Rights, among others. and international solidarity.
The massive explosion on August 4, 2020 in the port of Beirut resulted in the death of over 200 people, the injury of another 6,500 and the destruction of thousands of buildings. Shortly after the tragedy, 37 human rights experts from the United Nations released a joint statement calling on the Lebanese government and the international community to respond effectively to the need for justice and reparations.
However, the relatives of the victims have not received any response from their leaders regarding the presence of tons of ammonia nitrate that had been stored without protective measures at the site of the explosion. Investigations have been stalled since late 2021 due to political obstacles and not a single official has been tried.
With the international investigation being obstructed, “the families of the victims are thus asking the international community to set up an international investigation under the auspices of the Human Rights Council,” according to the UN experts.
Source: Capital
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