How about we explore a place in Beirut with a past rooted in disease control and waves of migration? This is Karantina. It is a neighborhood with a story etched in every street.
Karantina sits in northeastern Beirut. It is east of the Port of Beirut. The Charles Helou highway and Achrafieh district border it to the south. This location has shaped Karantina’s history.
The name Karantina comes from the French term “La Quarantaine”. This refers to a quarantine area. In 1831, Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt ordered a lazaretto built here. This was a quarantine station for travelers. It was managed by foreign consuls.
In 1951, around 1,300 Palestinian refugees settled in Karantina. By the mid-1970s, it became a favela. Around 27,000 people lived here. They were Palestinians, Armenians, Kurds, and Shia Muslims. PLO groups used Karantina as a base during the Lebanese Civil War. This made it a target. In January 1976, Christian militias attacked Karantina. They expelled the population. The Karantina massacre followed. About 1,500 people died.
Karantina’s industry once focused on glass and furniture. Tile, bricks, and leather were also produced here. Later, metal-based industries replaced them. Cereal silos, tanneries, and artisanal industries also appeared.
Today, Karantina faces pollution challenges. It is near the port and a former slaughterhouse. A waste disposal center is also nearby.
However, Karantina is also a place of culture. The Forum de Beyrouth hosts events like the Beirut Rock Festival. Nightclubs like B 018, KED, and Grand Factory are located here. Art galleries are also moving into the neighborhood. Joy Mardini’s Art Factum Gallery is in a former steel factory.
Karantina has been part of a recovery effort. This focuses on the neighborhood level. It aims to address vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities include low incomes and housing insecurity. There is also difficult access to basic services. The Beirut blast worsened these issues.
UNDP is working to establish a recovery framework. This involves community empowerment. It also involves stakeholder cooperation and evidence building. The goal is a more inclusive neighborhood.
Karantina once served as a refuge for minorities. The Beirut-Tripoli highway cut it off from the city. The port and industrial activities further isolated it. Residents face pollution and environmental challenges.
Efforts are underway to promote active participation in recovery. This includes establishing a neighborhood committee. Citizen science research is also being conducted. This research focuses on public life and space. Pilot projects engage community members.
Cooperation among stakeholders is crucial. This avoids duplication of efforts. A coordination platform facilitates dialogue. It involves CSOs, international organizations, and the municipality.
Evidence-based planning is central to the recovery. This involves collecting data. It also involves sharing knowledge. An urban environmental monitoring system is being developed. Public space surveys are conducted. The data informs decision-making.
Tactical interventions and urban experiments are being conducted. These are low-risk and participatory. They address issues like safety, accessibility, and the environment. Projects include traffic calming and bridge renovation.
Karantina’s journey is a symbol of resilience. It shows recovery and hope. It leaves no one behind. It has many lessons for Beirut.