A meeting was held with the efforts of the Governor of Baalbek-Hermel, Bashir Khodor, attended by concerned citizens of Arsal and Member of the "Baalbek-Hermel Bloc," MP Melhem al-Hajjeri. The meeting addressed the deteriorating health and environmental conditions in the town of Arsal.
The attendees issued a statement saying: "Considering the health and environmental situation in Arsal, especially with the onset of the refugee influx and the recent exacerbation of the crisis, a number of concerned individuals in Arsal convened and communicated with relevant parties from governmental bodies, international and local organizations, and religious leaders to address previous negligence before it is too late. Accordingly, a committee was formed to monitor the health and environmental situation and all matters concerning the town."
The committee expressed gratitude to the environmental prosecutor for his commendable initiative, granting a two-month deadline to find suitable and sustainable environmental solutions to mitigate the environmental damage affecting the town's residents in general. They also mentioned allowing tankers to remove wastewater from within the town and to operate as before within the given timeframe.
The statement concluded: "The committee puts every party and anyone concerned in front of their responsibilities and the need for swift action to contribute to finding appropriate solutions that protect our children and future generations from an environmental health catastrophe affecting us and the surrounding villages. Therefore, we give the relevant authorities a two-month deadline to remove the refugees from our town."
