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HRW warns of health risks of Lebanon garbage crisis

Garbage lies at the seashore north of Beirut, Lebanon, after it was washed away from a nearby seaside garbage dump, November 28, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Human Rights Watch has warned that the open burning of garbage in Lebanon is posing serious health risks for the residents.

The New York-based organization on Friday reported a massive increase in the open burning of waste across Lebanon, saying the people and municipalities resorted to burning the garbage as the government failed to solve the crisis.

"The open burning of waste violates Lebanon's environmental protection laws, which prohibit the emission of pollutants into the air, including harmful or disturbing smells," the HRW said.

The garbage crisis began in 2015 when the Lebanese Environment Ministry closed its largest landfill Naameh because it had been full, without offering an alternative. Large demonstrations rocked the country soon afterwards as huge mounds of rotting waste filled the streets and protesters chanted "You stink!" at the government.

The report said people living near open dumps suffered from respiratory problems.

The HRW urged the parliament to pass a law that the government approved in 2012 to create a single body to make uniform national decisions about waste management.


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