Hariri: Lebanon's Lockdown Aims to Protect People from Virus

The Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, affirmed on Wednesday that decision of the current general closure of the country aims to protect Lebanese citizens from the real threats of the Corona pandemic.

He added that societal commitment to the precautionary measures is a responsibility that cannot be evaded in the interest of public safety.

Hariri stressed that the state must take the initiative to compensate the poor and needy families in a way that provides them with the basics of steadfast living.

These statements made by Hariri came in response to the protests, confrontations, and riots that took place in the city of Tripoli (northern Lebanon) yesterday and today against the background of the city’s refusal to continue closing the country in light of severe economic and living crises.

Hariri said: "There may be parties behind the moves in Tripoli that want to send political messages, and there may be those who take advantage of the people's pain and the living distress that the poor and those with income suffer from the borders.

He confirmed that there is certainly no justification for the attack on private property, markets, and official institutions under the pretext of objecting to the closure decision.

He added, "But this does not negate the fact that there are groups of citizens looking for subsistence for their day, and it is not correct for the state to stand by and not take the initiative to compensate the poor and needy families."

A number of Lebanese regions witnessed demonstrations and protests denouncing the deteriorating economic and living conditions and rejecting the continuation of the comprehensive general closure of the country aimed at stopping the spread of the Corona pandemic.

The confrontations intensified yesterday in the city of Tripoli in particular, where clashes took place between the demonstrators and the army forces and the city’s streets turned into a hit-and-run arena, after the protesters threw stones, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails at officers and soldiers of the armed forces, which the military forces responded by firing tear gas bombs to disperse the protesters and stop the attacks.