Blog
Death Of George El Rassi Brings Back Road Safety Concerns
During the early hours of Saturday, August 27, the tragic deaths of Lebanese singer George el Rassi and the passenger Zena al Merhebi was announced. The two had perished after their car, believed to be driven by El Rassi, crashed into a median divider on the Masnaa road.
El Rassi, who’s sister is Lebanese actress Nadine el Rassi, was returning to Lebanon after a performance in Syria.
A video shared by the organization YASA for Road Safety revealed the extent to which the median on the very road that Rassi and Merhebi lost their lives on is arbitrary and obscured, particularly when considering the lack of lighting on most Lebanese roads due to the ongoing energy crisis.
The incident has brought back road safety to the forefront of local discussions. According to L’Orient Today, more than 1,350 lives have been lost in traffic accidents in Lebanon since October 2019. This figure, which is equivalent to 237 crashes per month over 32 months, is notably less than the 373 average that existed in the 32 months preceding October 2019. This anomaly is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and recurring gas crises. Globally, road accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged 5-29.
Away from statistical models, since October 2019, Lebanon’s roads have become much more dangerous for drivers. Street lights have been turned off on most streets in the country, traffic lights have been shut down, and road maintenance is non-existent. George el Rassi’s case highlights all of this.
According to Al Jadeed reporter Hadi al Amine, maintenance on the Masnaa road, an essential artery for travel between Lebanon and Syria, is contracted to someone identified only as K.H who reportedly stopped maintenance works on the road due to unpaid dues from the state.
Contractors are an important pillar of Lebanon’s political economy. Jihad al Arab, a close associate of the Hariri family, made his fortune off of similar projects around the country. K.H. is believed to be an associate of Nabih Berri.
As the Lebanese state continues to face internal financial and solvency issues, the breakdown of these clientalist contractor networks threatens to bring about more cases like these. Contractors who had made their illicit gains through government money will hide and expatriate their accumulated profits while neglecting any responsibility for continued work.
We send the el Rassi and al Merhebi families our deepest condolences, in the hopes that we can reach a point where everyone’s lives aren’t put in danger every time they step into a car.
دولتي فعلت هذا.
—(@lebprotests) August 29, 2022
.# pic.twitter.com/mwx2Qq7tkh
El Rassi, who’s sister is Lebanese actress Nadine el Rassi, was returning to Lebanon after a performance in Syria.
A video shared by the organization YASA for Road Safety revealed the extent to which the median on the very road that Rassi and Merhebi lost their lives on is arbitrary and obscured, particularly when considering the lack of lighting on most Lebanese roads due to the ongoing energy crisis.
— YASA for Road Safety www.yasa.org (@yasalebanon) August 27, 2022
The incident has brought back road safety to the forefront of local discussions. According to L’Orient Today, more than 1,350 lives have been lost in traffic accidents in Lebanon since October 2019. This figure, which is equivalent to 237 crashes per month over 32 months, is notably less than the 373 average that existed in the 32 months preceding October 2019. This anomaly is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and recurring gas crises. Globally, road accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged 5-29.
— Mhّmd (@dankar) August 28, 2022
Away from statistical models, since October 2019, Lebanon’s roads have become much more dangerous for drivers. Street lights have been turned off on most streets in the country, traffic lights have been shut down, and road maintenance is non-existent. George el Rassi’s case highlights all of this.
— Hadi Al Amine (@Hadialamine) August 28, 2022
According to Al Jadeed reporter Hadi al Amine, maintenance on the Masnaa road, an essential artery for travel between Lebanon and Syria, is contracted to someone identified only as K.H who reportedly stopped maintenance works on the road due to unpaid dues from the state.
Contractors are an important pillar of Lebanon’s political economy. Jihad al Arab, a close associate of the Hariri family, made his fortune off of similar projects around the country. K.H. is believed to be an associate of Nabih Berri.
As the Lebanese state continues to face internal financial and solvency issues, the breakdown of these clientalist contractor networks threatens to bring about more cases like these. Contractors who had made their illicit gains through government money will hide and expatriate their accumulated profits while neglecting any responsibility for continued work.
We send the el Rassi and al Merhebi families our deepest condolences, in the hopes that we can reach a point where everyone’s lives aren’t put in danger every time they step into a car.