FURY GROWS IN WAKE OF HORRIFIC BEIRUT BLAST By Donnelly McCleland Some Lebanese called on Sunday [9 August] for a sustained uprising to topple their leaders amid public fury over this week’s [4 August] devastating explosion in Beirut, and the country’s top Christian Maronite cleric said the cabinet should resign. Dozens of people were injured in Saturday’s protests, the biggest since October when thousands of people took to the streets in protests against corruption, bad governance and mismanagement. (Reuters) Massive blast compounds Lebanon’s woes Just days after the explosion, shock turned to fury as angry protesters stormed government buildings and clashed with security forces in Beirut. Thousands of people demonstrated against Lebanon's ruling class amid growing anger over the deadly explosion in the capital’s port on Tuesday 4 August. The explosion – which killed about 200 people, injured a further 6,000 and devasted neighbourhoods – is believed to have been caused by the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate (a compound used in fertilizer and explosives – particularly for mining) which had been stored in the port for almost six years. What ignited the stored explosive chemicals remains unclear. Some officials have said repair work had begun recently on the warehouse, while others say they suspect fireworks were stored nearby. The government pledged “swift justice” for those responsible for the catastrophe. However, public consensus maintains that the negligent handling and storage of such a lethal cargo, near the heart of the capital, epitomised their “corrupt and self-enriching” government. One commentator summed up the feeling of many Lebanese: “This catastrophe is just the most recent and most horrifying example of how one Lebanese government after the other has failed to fulfil its most basic tasks: looking after the citizens' welfare and well-being.” The explosion comes at a critical time for Lebanon as it struggles to contain the spread of the coronavirus while contending with an economy in freefall. Even before COVID-19, Lebanon’s spiralling economic crisis pushed tens of thousands of people into poverty and triggered large anti-government protests. According to BBC News, the country’s public debt-to-gross domestic product (what a country owes compared to what it produces) was the third-highest in the world; unemployment stood at 25%; and nearly a third of the population was living below the poverty line. The Lebanese pound has lost about 80% of its value over the past 10 months. Simultaneously, people were getting increasingly angry and frustrated about the government's failure to provide even basic services. There were daily power cuts, a lack of safe drinking water, limited public healthcare, and some of the world's worst internet connections. In October 2019, tens of thousands of Lebanese took to the streets in protest, leading to the resignation of Western- backed Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his unity government. In March 2020, the newly appointed Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced that Lebanon would default on its foreign debt for the first time in its history, saying its foreign currency reserves had hit a "critical and dangerous" level and that those remaining were needed to pay for vital imports. Calls for a leadership overhaul Saturday’s protest saw mock gallows erected in Martyrs' Square to indicate the demonstrators' view of the country's political leaders. The protesters chanted curse-filled slogans against President Michel Aoun and Hezbollah, among others. Many blame the ruling elite who have dominated politics for years and amassed their own wealth while failing to carry out the sweeping reforms necessary to solve the country's problems. Most analysts point to Lebanon’s political sectarianism (or groups looking after their own interests) as a key contributing factor to Lebanon’s crippling crises. As explained in a BBC News article: “Lebanon officially recognises 18 religious communities - four Muslim, 12 Christian, the Druze sect and Judaism. The three main political offices - president, speaker of parliament and prime minister - are divided among the three biggest communities (Maronite Christian; Shia Muslim; and Sunni Muslim, respectively) under an agreement dating back to 1943. Parliament's 128 seats are also divided evenly between Christians and Muslims (including Druze). Since the end of the civil war [1975-1990], political leaders from each sect have maintained their power and influence through a system of patronage networks - protecting the interests of the religious communities they represent, and offering - both legal and illegal - financial incentives.” It is this system, which has been maintained for almost three decades, that many Lebanese view as dysfunctional, and want to see dismantled. During a visit to Beirut on Thursday [6 August], French President Emmanuel Macron said Lebanon needs a "new political order" to resolve years of crisis. Another key role-player within Lebanon’s political (and military) landscape is the Islamist Party, Hezbollah. Hezbollah is the only group not to have disarmed after Lebanon's civil war, and it fought Israeli troops who occupied southern Lebanon until 2000. It commands a majority in government and parliament along with its political allies. Many Lebanese questioned Hezbollah’s possible role in Tuesday’s blast citing the group as being a key force in the port’s activities. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was quick to stress that it had no missiles or other weapons stored in the area of the blast. Lebanon's President Michel Aoun told reporters on Friday that Lebanon's political system should be "reconsidered". He went on to explain: "We are facing changes and reconsidering our system, which is built on consensus, after it was seen to be paralysed and incapable of swiftly executing decisions." Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab then announced on Saturday his intention to call for early elections. On Sunday, Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad announced her resignation. She cited the failure of the government to carry out reforms and the "Beirut catastrophe" as her reasons for leaving her post. Many protesters have indicated that they will not rest until the entire government resigns and is replaced by a competent body that can steer the nation through the massive crises it faces. FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE Lebanon has a relatively small population of about 6.5 million (including over one million Syrian refugees), but from a Christian perspective, it plays a strategic and significant role in the region. Despite the dysfunctional nature of its political system, the fact that Christians have a supported and legitimate presence in this Muslim-majority nation makes it unique within the Middle East. Lebanon has the highest percentage of Christians in any country in the Arab World (including Israel). Around 33.7% of Lebanese profess to be Christian (with Maronite Catholics making up the largest proportion of these), while 61.1% are Muslim (with an almost even split between Sunni and Shia). It also the only Muslim-majority nation with a Christian president. Because Christianity has such a prominent, and visible presence in Lebanon, the Gospel can advance in every sector of society. Lebanon has also provided a gateway for the Gospel to be proclaimed to other countries through Christian media, and through work down by churches with the many refugees who have sought shelter in Lebanon (Syrians, Kurds, Palestinians, etc.). It is estimated that 1 in every 4 people in Lebanon is a refugee. Many refugees (potentially thousands) have found Christ in Lebanon. The devastating explosion, together with the economic and political crises will most certainly impact the work of the Church in Lebanon. An INcontext contact in Lebanon shared his thoughts on Tuesday’s explosion (and Lebanon’s deepening crises): “It feels like the gates of hell opened up against Lebanon. I know that we are the ones who have kept them open, and we’re paying for it. Of course, as a Church, we are still hopeful and faithful. However, everyone is paying a heavy price – devastation had already swept through the land before the huge explosion. What we really hope for is that people would come on their knees and return to the Lord. We were encouraged by the French President’s visit, especially when we heard that international measures could be taken to change our government’s system. But we know that unless we come to the Lord in repentance, nothing will be done. As one catastrophe follows another, in moments when our faith waivers, it is easy to think, ‘what will be next?’ Nevertheless, our church has actively responded to the recent explosion – we have gone door-to-door to check on people, we want them to know they are not alone, and that God cares. Some find it hard to seek God in such a time, but we encourage them that now is the right time. We helped distribute food as well. But there are still many who we have not reached yet, many who might be helpless and hopeless. We look to the Most High to come and save what’s left, that’s our only hope. You know everybody wants to leave this country now: they have been deprived of all their earnings and finances, and now their homes. But some people still carry hope in their hearts from the Most High.” Two predominately Christian neighbourhoods in Beirut – Mar Mikhael and Gemmaye – were particularly hard hit by Tuesday’s explosion. The blast devastated thousands of homes and businesses, as well as church buildings and religious centres. Many Lebanese, including Christians, see the explosion as “just another nail in the coffin” for those who are considering leaving their country for better opportunities. According to an article in Christianity Today (CT), Tony Skaff, pastor of Badaro Baptist Church in Beirut said: “More than anything else, the Lebanese people need hope.