The explosion in Beirut exposed them to worse conditions of vulnerability, abandonment and more abuse than they had been suffering since the beginning of the pandemic. Especially to migrant workers.

We denounce the failure of the multinational company RAMCO to pay the nearly 200 recyclers, we call for their prompt repatriation for the ones who wish to be repatriated to the embassies of Bangladesh, Indonesia and Egypt, and advocate for a better recovery of recyclers infected with COVID 19.

Recyclers and the August 4th explosion

Some of the victims are waste pickers from Bangladesh. Their bodies are still in hospital morgues and their identities are unknown. The rest of the workers need urgent evacuation as waste pickers are the first to be sent to clean up toxic waste and are forced to work in unsafe conditions.