On August 4, 2020, the world witnessed a catastrophic event in Beirut, Lebanon—one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The devastating explosion, caused by the detonation of tons of ammonium nitrate, left a trail of destruction, loss of life, and a city in despair.
This tragedy was the culmination of decades of government mismanagement and corruption at Beirut’s port. The story begins in November 2013, when a Moldovan-flagged ship named the Rhosus arrived at the port, carrying a cargo of ammonium nitrate. This highly combustible chemical compound, commonly used as fertilizer, can also be used to manufacture explosives.
Over the years, Lebanese authorities displayed criminal negligence in handling the Rhosus’s cargo. They stored the ammonium nitrate in Hangar 12 at the port, despite international guidelines on its safe storage. The consequences of this negligence were catastrophic.
The explosion claimed the lives of 218 people of various nationalities and injured thousands more. It left over 300,000 people displaced, damaged countless homes, and disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of children. The economic impact was staggering, with billions of dollars in material damage and a severe environmental toll due to ammonia gas and nitrogen oxides released into the air.
The evidence suggests that multiple Lebanese authorities were aware of the risks posed by ammonium nitrate but failed to take adequate measures to protect the public. This includes high-ranking officials like President Michel Aoun and former Prime Minister Hassan Diab, who were informed of the dangers but did not act in a timely manner.
The domestic investigation into the explosion has been marred by procedural flaws, a lack of judicial independence, and immunity for high-level officials. Survivors and victims’ families have called for an international investigation, citing their lack of faith in domestic mechanisms.
As we mark one year since the Beirut port explosion, there is a growing demand for justice and accountability. The Human Rights Council has the opportunity to assist Lebanon in fulfilling its human rights obligations by mandating an international investigative mission to uncover the causes of the blast and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
The mission should also identify failures in the domestic investigation, provide recommendations for remedying the violations, and address the underlying systemic issues that led to this tragedy. Countries with human rights sanction regimes should consider punitive measures against officials implicated in ongoing human rights violations and efforts to obstruct accountability.
The Beirut port explosion serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of government negligence and corruption. It is a call to action for the international community to stand with the people of Lebanon in their quest for justice and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.