Today in Beirut…

The ongoing garbage crisis here in Lebanon has brought people together across sectarian lines–everyone’s tired of the trash. Many streets aren’t even passable due to the mountains of refuse erupting in all directions. Today in Beirut, the government failed once again to find a solution to the protracted garbage crisis. As you can imagine, the smell throughout the city is awful–and now foreign governments are warning their citizens of the environmental, health, and travel risks of the 11-day crisis. In its travel advisory, the British government now notes the “higher than usual levels of air pollution in Beirut” from the buildup of trash throughout the city.