A Neutral lebanon is a national duty
The Lebanese are anxious and largely oppose being dragged into a war due to a decision made by any party other than their constitutional authorities. Entering into a war should not occur as a result of a fatwa, de facto powers nor in execution of a foreign power’s order.
Yes, Lebanon is in great danger if the country is drawn into the raging war between Gaza and Israel. Lebanon does not currently have the ability to provide a minimum level of protection and support to its citizens as a result of the economic, financial and social collapse that it has endured and continues to impact the country.
Lebanon does not have the resilience needed to support a war if it were to occur. Civil defense and relief services are neither resourced nor ready. The country has no strategic reserves of basic consumables. It has no adequate shelters to protect the population to start with. The state will not be able to provide for people’s basic needs. And Lebanon does not own the resources to ensure rebuilding after a war.
This war,
should it occur...
The probability of complete blockade by air, sea and land. How will the country import or export?
How will it be possible to insure the population’s basic needs?
How will flour be supplied especially that the silos of the port of Beirut have been destroyed along with Lebanon’s strategic reserves.How will hospitals treat the wounded?
Do they have sufficient equipment’s, supplies and medicines?
Who will pay for their treatment?
Who will care for cancer and dialysis and other chronic patients throughout?How will authorities deal with the problem of internal displacement, especially that the problem of the displaced Syrians crisis continues to grow and has not been resolved?
Who will rebuild the vital infrastructure such as the airport and the bridges or even utilities after they have been bombed. The state is bankrupt. It is absent. And donor countries are issuing very vocal warnings: “Do not intervene in this war”.
How will it be possible to economically, fiscally and socially recover?. How will it be possible to address the social crisis? The economic cycle will grind to a halt, consumption will crater. Companies and businesses will close and employees will be let go. Productive and capable citizens will emigrate accelerating the brain drain.
We will lose an entire generation that will no longer be able to pursue its education or employment. Who will compensate them for the loss of their youth and dreams?
The war, should it occur, will put an end to what is still left of Lebanon.
The Lebanese Private Sector Network demands that every person in a position of authority responsible to exercise every effort to spare Lebanon the agony of a war which is not in its national interest or in the interest of its people.
May those in a position of authority assume their responsibilities towards our people and History.
A Neutral Lebanon is a National Duty.