This is the second disaster within a few months, as a new illegal migration boat sinks off the Syrian coast after departing from Lebanon, leading to a catastrophe for Lebanon. More than 80 victims and dozens missing are the current tally, and the scale of the disaster is expected to double with the absence of hopes of finding missing individuals alive after more than 48 hours since the sinking. This will not be the last boat, nor the last catastrophe; indeed, dozens of boats are set to set sail in the coming days, and the scenario is likely to be repeated with every boat that departs. Illegal migrants prefer the dangers of the sea and death over staying in the "hell" that has stripped them of their basic rights. It is noteworthy that the escape is not limited to residents of the north; Lebanese from various regions are heading to Akkar and Tripoli to join these boats.
What is happening in the north applies to various regions experiencing phenomena that Lebanese people have not been accustomed to, ranging from widespread suicide, through theft, to illegal escape from the country. This issue highlights the absence of the state and its institutions, concerning both oversight and the establishment of protective social policies to ease the impact of the collapse, as the Progressive Socialist Party's statement indicated, which once again urged the authority to implement reforms and protect the poorest groups.
MP Ashraf Rifi pointed out that "the situation is tragic in the north, and residents feel great despair, with the authority bearing the responsibility for marginalizing the region and disrupting its facilities, thus leading it to this stage. This reality is not new; it has lasted for decades because the people of this area rejected the Syrian hegemony before and currently refuse Iranian dominance."
In a conversation with "Al-Anbaa" electronic newspaper, he noted that "this authority, by political decision, has disabled the airport, the exhibition, the economic zone, the Al-Badawi station, and other economic facilities that provide job and income opportunities. Moreover, the region is deprived of the minimum living requirements, such as electricity, which applies to other Lebanese regions as well."
Rifi did not rule out the launch of more "death" boats and believed that "the magnitude of suffering and despair will drive families to prefer the danger of the sea and death over hell, knowing they are witnessing firsthand what is happening to their predecessors who fail to reach safety." However, he urged everyone to reconsider their decision to engage in illegal migration due to the significant dangers to their lives.
Regarding the necessary solution to reduce disasters, Rifi emphasized that the treatment lies in the overthrow of the current authority that does not care about its citizens' conditions, and building a state that looks after its people and ensures their rights. He called on the sovereign forces to agree on a candidate for the presidency, as this is the gateway to solutions.
