A UN investigation into the Beirut port blast could eventually be carried out as a result of a joint statement issued before the Human Rights Council on Tuesday in Geneva, a French diplomatic source has told The National.
Thirty-eight countries at the council, a UN intergovernmental body, urged Lebanon to conduct “a swift, independent, impartial, credible and transparent investigation into the explosion”.
A domestic inquiry in Lebanon has been suspended for over a year amid political meddling into the investigation, which has sought to determine the cause of the explosion on August 4 2020.
Around 220 people died and more than 7,000 were injured when nearly 3,000 tonnes of poorly-stored ammonium nitrate, a chemical mainly used in fertiliser, caught fire and exploded in the port.
The statement denounced the “systemic obstruction, interference, intimidation,” and hampering of the local probe.
“We urge Lebanon to abide by its international human rights obligations to take all the necessary measures to safeguard in law and in practice, the full independence and impartiality of the Lebanese judiciary,” it said.
The statement, delivered by Australia's ambassador to Geneva, Amanda Gorely, on behalf of the 38 member states, followed a speech by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, who called for a “serious investigation” into the Beirut Port explosion, “without political interference or further delay”.
Tuesday's joint statement, initiated by Australia, homeland of the blast's youngest victim, laid the foundation for the establishment of a UN fact-finding mission, a French diplomatic source confirmed to The National — even if it is not explicitly mentioned in the text.
“The statement is a first step towards a swift, independent and impartial UN fact-finding mission,” the source said, stressing that France, which is one of the 38 signatories of the statement, has pushed for an international investigation from the beginning.
“It was Lebanon's sovereign choice to refuse an international investigation. But faced with the slowness of the domestic probe, we support the establishment of a UN mission into the explosion to push for accountability,” the source said.
The next step would be the presentation of a country-led resolution before the Human Rights Council in Geneva at the next session in June. Such a resolution will have to be adopted by a majority vote for the UN mission to be established.
Lebanon rejected the opening of an international investigation, despite widespread calls, with Michel Aoun, who was Lebanon's president at the time, dismissing it as an attempt to “dilute the truth”.
But more than two-and-a-half years since the devastating blast, which destroyed swathes of the capital, no senior official in Lebanon has been held accountable for the tragedy.
The domestic probe stopped again in January after lead investigator Tarek Bitar, who charged multiple top-ranking officials in connection with the blast, tried to resume his inquiry.
Mr Bitar was blocked by Lebanon Prosecutor General Ghassan Oueidat, also named in the case, who filed charges against Mr Bitar for rebelling against the judiciary.
Unlike international inquiries, a UN fact-finding mission does not require an invitation from the receiving state.
The last UN fact-finding mission has been established in Iran, looking at Tehran's rights violations in crackdowns against protesters, especially with respect to women and children
Growing campaign for justice
Civil society and opposition groups have long supported the establishment of a UN fact-finding mission.
The August Fourth Collective, which brings together families of the victims, has advocated a UN fact-finding mission since the end of 2020, Paul Naggear, a member of the collective, told The National.
In collaboration with non-governmental organisations such as Legal Action Worldwide, Human Rights Watch, lawyers and activists, it has been working to identify the best way to look for justice abroad, he said.
“We identify the UN fact-finding mission as the best option among the ones available,” said Mr Naggear, whose three-year-old daughter died in the explosion.
“Its mission will be the establish the facts: from the arrival of the ammonium nitrate leading to the moment of explosion. The team will work in collaboration the local lead investigator, Mr Bitar, and add their expertise to his investigation.”
Aya Majzoub, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, told The National, that the move is a “good first step towards accountability”.
The joint statement, “put pressure on Lebanese authorities and called them out in their shameful efforts to block the domestic investigation,” she said.
“But in the absence of meaningful measures to resolve the blockage of the investigation, we call on the international community to escalate the response and establish an international fact-finding mission into the explosion,”
Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Draw
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)
Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
WTL%20SCHEDULE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Palestine and Israel - live updates
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
