The Municipality of Bourj Hammoud issued the following statement today, Monday: "In light of all official statements and correspondence issued by the Municipality of Bourj Hammoud regarding the circumstances of the Beirut River flooding, its causes, and the resulting damages, the municipality wishes to inform the public of the following:
1. The municipality has continuously reviewed ministries and administrations regarding encroachments on the riverbed, blockage of its outlet, and the accumulation of sand, warning of the dangers these factors pose, and has sought to mitigate the flood damages caused by these factors, the latest of which occurred on the night of December 23-24, 2023, through official correspondence and statements.
2. Following the damages caused by the recent flood, and given the lack of any initiative or response concerning the municipality's reviews, along with warnings of expected weather conditions, the municipality took the initiative to find solutions to address these risks. Due to a lack of necessary resources and unavailable budgets, the municipality reached out to concerned friends who undertook to provide machinery to clean the river's outlet, which had been mostly blocked with waste, rubble, and debris for years due to the illegal island situated within its path, leading to flooding. We express our sincere thanks to those who covered these expenses and works.
3. On January 6, 2024, after completing the cleaning stage of the riverbed and mouth and setting the sand aside, the Ministry of Energy and Water dispatched one of the contractors assigned by them to take over the work.
4. The municipality was informed of the press conference held by the Chairman of the Public Works, Transport, Energy, and Water Committee, Deputy Saji Atiyeh, on Thursday, January 4, 2024, attended by the relevant ministers and representatives of other related administrations, where he confirmed the causative factors of the risks raised by the Municipality of Bourj Hammoud, as well as the ministers’ agreement to address them.
5. The debris and dirt that we removed from the riverbed remain alongside it, and after we ceased work, with central administrations taking over, up until the time of preparing this statement, there has been no removal of it or continuation of work. With weather forecasts predicting high precipitation rates in the coming days, leaving this debris and sand threatens their return to the riverbed, blocking it, and causing repeated flooding and damages.
Therefore, we urge the relevant ministries and administrations to expedite the removal of these debris and begin implementing the measures discussed during the parliamentary committee meeting. We reiterate our warning to the concerned parties that any delay in carrying out these works, in the event of adverse weather conditions, will lead to the riverbed being closed again, causing further floods and damages that cannot be anticipated or assured against recurrence. Consequently, we refuse to assume any responsibility in this matter."
