(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanon’s Health Minister Wael Abu Faour and Agricultural Minister Akram Shehayeb were trapped on Tuesday in the elevator of a wheat silos building at Beirut’s port.
The two ministers, who were visiting to inspect “major health violations” of the wheat silos, remained stuck in the elevator for about 15 minutes.
Following the inspection Abu Faour stressed that some enhancements were made but not enough, revealing that the file will be referred to the judiciary.
“Those who are responsible will be held accountable,” Abu Faour said during a joint press conference with Shehayeb and Economy Minister Alain Hakim. “The improvements made since the Health Ministry’s inspection teams first visit on December 10 are not enough.”
Abu Faour’s campaign, which started in October, aims to inform the public of health violations at major restaurants, factories, and agriculture companies.
“A large number of birds is found, which facilitates the transfer of germs. The trucks moving the wheat are not in a good condition,” he said. “The Lebanese are sharing their food with pigeons and rats,” the minister concluded.
Shehayeb called the situation “disastrous” and said it should be “swiftly” treated.
Hakim says that improvements will take at least a month to to be completed, vowing to rectify all the required food safety violations “until we reach a safe harboring environment at the port.”