The Conservative MP for Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, Richard Martel, was shocked by the news of the two explosions at the port of Beirut.
Members of his family still live in Lebanon, said Richard Martel. He said he was in shock when he heard the news.
As soon as he learned of the terrible tragedy, Richard Martel tried to call his aunt. But without success. It was finally his cousin who confirmed to him that everything was going well for them.
“My aunt cried all night because they didn’t know what was going on. Within a radius of 10-20 km everything was damaged, ”he said.
The member called the disaster inconceivable and criticizes the government for being negligent. “It’s been stored at the port for years,” he said of tons of ammonium nitrate. Everyone knew about it. We can say that it is negligence on the part of the government. ”
Struggling with political and economic problems, Lebanon now has to face a crisis that has left more than 100 dead and thousands injured.
“My aunt has invested money and is no longer able to withdraw it because they have a liquidity problem. They really didn’t need that, ”added the MP.
Richard Martel hopes that Canada will assist Lebanon. The country, he said, is in dire need of it.