An additional concern that added insult to injury to the Lebanese’s concerns, the earthquakes, which became their main concern and sowed fear in their souls. There are many questions in a country like Lebanon that is experiencing many crises, and it does not need an earthquake to collapse, as the state is worn out and its institutions are suffering and in a state of great weightlessness.
There is no answer that heals, quenches the grief of the Lebanese, and comforts them. The simplest question is, is the state able to save its citizens in the event, God forbid, of a devastating earthquake like the one that struck Turkey and northern Syria? Do the relevant ministries, agencies and institutions concerned have sufficient equipment and techniques to allow them to intervene quickly to rescue citizens from under the rubble?
The head of the High Relief Commission, Major General Muhammad Khair, indicates that “the commission is in constant contact with the caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, on following up the issue of earthquakes,” pointing out that “there is a plan developed with the Disaster Management Committee in the event of an earthquake.”
And he added, in an interview on the Lebanese website, that “this plan is exceptional, and it is implemented in the event of disasters, especially when an earthquake occurs. It also includes how to coordinate with the security services, the Red Cross and Civil Defense, in addition to the Ministry of Works, which owns the equipment.
Khair points out, “In the political field, Mikati communicates with countries in order to request their assistance in the event of a disaster, including countries that have the ability to intervene immediately. In addition to international organizations concerned with providing relief to the afflicted and securing the necessary and basic needs, such as food and emergency basic requirements that the afflicted need, such as tents, clothes, and others.
For his part, Head of the Service and Operations Division of the Civil Defense, Mansour Sorour, confirms that “the civil defense is fully prepared to deal with any damage that may result from an earthquake or earthquake, and is in constant coordination with the Disaster Management Committee and with the concerned agencies.”
And he indicated, in an interview with the “Forces” website, that “the division has enough devices to monitor citizens trapped under the rubble, and they are working well. In addition to the large and medium machinery that is used to lift the rubble and extract the trapped and the victims.”
But Sorour added, saying, “We as a civil defense are spread over all Lebanese lands, and we have 227 centers, and we are doing our duty to the fullest. But if an earthquake occurs in any area and our centers are damaged and our personnel are injured, only then, God forbid, can we not intervene. In the hope that no harm will happen to Lebanon and that these disasters will spare us.”