The explosions in Beirut's port turned property agent and party king Johnny Assaf into an activist. He's coordinating the protests against Lebanon's politicians, accusing them of leaving the people to pick up the pieces.

They have no recourse but their own initiative. Volunteers are coming to Beirut from all across Lebanon, bringing food, helping to clean up and caring for the wounded. Especially hard hit are the quarter of a million Syrian refugees living in Beirut, most of them in the port's immediate vicinity. Now, many of them have lost what little they had. Discontent had already been smoldering in Lebanon for months. Critics blame the country's rigidified and corrupt political system for the ongoing economic crisis. They say the explosions in the port were only the last gasp of an epic and wide-ranging failure of the state. Will the Lebanese give themselves over to resignation or allow their fury to ignite a revolt? A Report by Theresa Breuer and Vanessa Schlesier.

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