Can Lebanon Survive? Massive Beirut Explosion Follows 'Crisis Upon Crisis'

(From August 6, 2020) The eyes of the world turned to Beirut on Tuesday as a massive blast destroyed the Lebanese capital's port.

As the world replayed the video clips of the devastating explosion, captured from nearly every imaginable cinematic angle and range, the death toll rose as the wounded flooded overwhelmed and damaged hospitals. Although the search for survivors continues, the death toll has risen above 130 with more than 4,000 injured from the blast felt across the country.

The blast exacerbates the situation in an already strained country where the economy's continuing collapse and soaring inflation rate have led to empty grocery store shelves and daily power cuts tied to a growing fuel shortage.

"Lebanon is grappling with a crisis upon crisis scenario. A harrowing financial crisis has paralyzed access to deposits, and has led to the closure of businesses and to the crippling of livelihoods and opportunities," Dr. Tamirace Fakhoury, an associate professor of political science and international affairs at the Lebanese American University in Beirut told Newsweek. (READ MORE at Newsweek)