Lebanon: Beirut-South Highway Reopened after 2 Days of Trash Standoff

Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Lebanon: Beirut-South Highway Reopened after 2 Days of Trash Standoff

A vital highway which links between Beirut and south Lebanon was reopened on Monday, more than 24 hours after protesters blocked it at the town of Jiyeh.

National news agency said that protesters agreed to reopen the major highway following a pledge made by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq not to transfer waste to Iqlim al-Kharroub region without a deal with municipalities.

The agency also reported the clashes erupted between the protesters and security forces, after anti-riot police used water hoses to disperse the crowd that hurled security forces with rocks, resulting in the injury of three demonstrators.

Four other Internal Security Forces members were wounded, NNA said.

Thousands of commuters were stranded over the weekend because of the highway's closure, forcing security forces to divert traffic to the old seaside road.

The same scene was repeated during the morning rush hour on Monday.

But the ISF issued a communique saying the highway was reopened around noon Monday.
Beirut and Mount Lebanon plunged in a waste crisis following the July 17 closure of the Naameh landfill.

The government pledged last year that the landfill would be closed and an alternative site be found. But the date came and went with no solution found.

Initially, trash collector Sukleen stored waste at its facilities, but by July 20 they were at capacity and garbage began piling up.