Statement No. (1) Issued by the Save Adloun group regarding the construction of a port on Adloun Beach

We are not opposed to the port project as a project in itself, nor are we objecting for the sake of objection, and we do not seek to halt it. However, we have legitimate demands that must be met before the project proceeds. This can only happen after clear studies are conducted and made public. Accordingly, we present our list of key demands:

First:
All maps and plans of the project must be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Culture to assess the project’s environmental and historical impact, and approval from both ministries must be obtained before any work begins.

Second:
Professional divers from the Divers’ Syndicate must conduct dives in the area designated for land reclamation to ensure it is free of archaeological remains, and to take the necessary measures should any be found.

Third:
The relevant authorities must prepare a feasibility study for the project, estimated to cost around 40 billion Lebanese pounds, clearly demonstrating the public benefit of such a major project for the residents of Adloun and the surrounding area, so that the local community is not left uninformed or disadvantaged regarding the project’s justifications and objectives.

We place these points in the hands of the relevant official authorities from the Municipality of Adloun to the Ministry of Culture (Directorate General of Antiquities), the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport so that they may fulfill their duties and take the necessary actions before it is too late and the crisis worsens.