The media office of the Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, has issued a statement addressed to all Lebanese citizens.
The statement highlighted that "beyond all the obstacles and political tensions preventing the formation of the government, the COVID-19 pandemic remains a national, moral, and humanitarian issue that cannot tolerate exploitation, negligence, or social, living, and economic justifications, no matter how severe they are." It noted that Lebanon is on the verge of reaching the highest rates of infections, which is extremely dangerous for all Lebanese, residents, and displaced individuals alike, and requires deep awareness of the health implications if the current situation of violations and insufficient measures continues.
Hariri called on the Lebanese people, especially in popular neighborhoods and areas, to stay home and cease all forms of mixing and activities. He emphasized that the country is facing an epidemic that spares neither the young nor the old, the rich nor the poor, the educated nor the uneducated, citizens or residents, Muslims or Christians. He reaffirmed that "there is a responsibility on the state to provide the necessities of life, especially for the poor, low-income earners, and daily wage workers who are struggling to secure their daily bread. There is, therefore, an ethical responsibility on those who can afford it in all sects, regions, parties, and economic sectors to unite and collaborate in helping those in need and alleviating the pandemic of poverty and hunger from the citizens. However, the greater responsibility falls on all Lebanese and residents collectively, starting from our homes, communities, parties, mosques, and churches, with a strict commitment to preventive and safety measures."
In his statement, Hariri added, "The Lebanese medical and health personnel in public and private hospitals, the Red Cross, civil defense, laboratories, pharmacies, clinics, and health centers constitute the first line of defense for the safety of people and combating the pandemic, but the national and moral duty requires us, citizens and officials, to provide protection and safety requirements for this dedicated team so they can fulfill their role without imposing on them burdens they cannot bear."
Hariri concluded his statement, saying: "In this regard, we will start with ourselves; we urge the party members and supporters in the Future Movement and the admirers of the late President Rafik Hariri in the regions to take this call seriously, to commit, and to refrain from organizing any activities as the anniversary of the assassination of the late President and his comrades approaches, including gatherings at the tomb and holding seminars and festivals. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken friends, loved ones, and relatives from us and has entered our homes without permission, sowing fear and anxiety about our fate. It is claiming citizens one by one, but negligence will open the doors to tragedy."
