Barcelona, 11th of August 2020 – Taking into consideration the current situation in Lebanon concerning the Beirut port explosion and its tragic consequences for the Lebanese people. The Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) urges the international community to support the recovery and reconstruction of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, that has been devastated after the double explosion that has caused immense damage.

Death, suffering, and destruction have hit a country that was already in a state of shock, leaving thousands injured, more than a hundred dead, 300 thousand people homeless, and material losses of billions of dollars. Lebanon, a country that has been ravaged for years by multiple economic, political, social, and now health crises, as a result of the COVID-19, seems to be in an unrestrained fall that we hope it gets to an end soon.

ASCAME, on behalf of the Chambers of Commerce and companies from the 23 Mediterranean countries that the Association represents, calls for the urgent support of the Mediterranean and the international community to the people of Lebanon and the private sector. We advocate for a common, strong, and decisive response to the challenges posed by this tragedy and its consequences. 

The entire private sector, and especially its intermediary institutions such as the Chambers of Commerce, are deeply concerned about the social, economic, and political impact of the Beirut port explosion. There is no doubt that this is a huge, unexpected, and appalling shock to public life, health, social welfare, and economic activity in Lebanon. In the short term, the priority should be to rebuild and to stabilize the economic and social situation. While in the midterm, the economic and financial crisis is likely to aggravate if the political system is not reformed as it has been expressed by the Lebanese and amplified by indignation at the tragedy of the events in the Port of Beirut.

When Lebanon bleeds, the whole Mediterranean suffers from it. The Mediterranean and International solidarity must be fully exercised and commensurate with the losses and destruction. Actions by the European Union and the United Nations are urgently needed. The catastrophe that has struck Beirut is a tragedy for the entire world. There are not enough words to describe the situation. Europe cannot ignore Lebanon and the Mediterranean and it must be fully involved in the recovery since its future is closely related to the development capacity of this region as it is shown by the strong interdependencies and multiple transmission channels. Indeed, not being completely implicated would lead to undesirable consequences for all.

The Chambers of Commerce in Lebanon cover the entire territory. They are in close contact with companies acting as intermediaries between the administration and the private sector. Yet, Chambers of Commerce are well structured in associations and can be organised to reinforce the interests of a wide territory. They are useful entities that offer an extensive network of stakeholders across the regional and global world.

In this line, ASCAME and the Beirut and the Lebanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry are working together with supranational organisations. As key team players, the focus is on successfully coordinate north-south business activities and to promote international aid in two levels of cooperation: fostering the development of aid and acting as regional interlocutors with multilateral organizations.

The Lebanese economy needs to survive, it is time to provide direct help to the private sector to preserve jobs and be able to offer social benefits. The micro, small and medium-sized companies, which constitute the backbone of the Lebanese economy, and their workers, who represent more than 80% of employment, will be the most affected by the economic impacts. Hence why the international community must be committed to taking urgent safeguard measures to maintain their viability and avoid rampant unemployment.

ASCAME is certain that with the support needed, Lebanon, the country that has been a bridge between east and west, the natural gateway to and from the region will rise again and Beirut, a commercial, financial and university center with a rich culture and vibrant society, occupied and destroyed several times will rise again. Despite everything, the sun will rise again.