Beirut: In a pointed cartoon in its Monday edition, Al Nahar depicted a mask-wearing mosquito telling his companion that the “smell of corruption ... [is] asphyxiating,” which was meant to be doubly ironic: corruption and political incompetence delayed a resolution of the garbage crisis, which also sickened everyone, including the pests.
Warm temperatures and accumulated garbage is creating a haven for insects. Already, a number of children sustained severe mosquito bites and were rushed to various hospitals. The Ministry called on residents to maintain a clean environment inside and outside buildings, remove stagnant water that mosquitoes might bread in, and rely on repellents.
Most coastal municipalities from Tripoli in the North to Sur in the South stepped up measures to eradicate mosquitoes as spraying trucks roamed streets to kill pests.
As a consequence of the trash crisis that plagued Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon after May 17, 2015, when the Naameh landfill was allegedly closed, residents endured the smell of mounting refuse in just about every corner of their cities. For eight months, few gave any thought that exposed garbage that accumulated haphazardly, attracted a high number of rodents and mosquitoes.
While the crisis ended a few weeks ago after the Cabinet approved a plan to reopen the infamous Naameh landfill for two months, as well as establish two other facilities near Bourj Hammoud and Choueifat, collection remained slow. In fact, the agreed plan continues to face criticism from citizens, especially regarding the Choueifat landfill at the Costa Brava spot. It was the topic of conversation between Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan and Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Sunday in the latter’s garden.
Following the meeting, Arslan reiterated his refusal, and that of Choueifat residents, to the landfill even as garbage trucks made the run on an hourly basis.
The Ministry of Health for its part released a statement on Saturday that addressed grave concerns regarding proliferation of mosquitoes with the beginning of spring.
