Karantina
Encyclopedia
La Quarantaine, which is colloquially referred to as Karantina (Arabic: الكرنتينا) and sometimes spelled Quarantina, is a predominately low-income, mixed-use residential, commercial, and semi-industrial neighborhood in northeastern Beirut
. The neighborhood lies east of the Port of Beirut
, which also encircles it from the north, west of the Beirut River
and north of the Charles Helou
highway and the Achrafieh
district of Beirut.
The neighborhood takes its name from the French, La Quarantaine, because it was the location where a lazaretto
for travellers was built at the request of Ibrahim Pasha, the son of Muhammad Ali Pasha, the Governor of Egypt, who controlled Syria and Beirut in 1831. The lazaretto was to be managed by a committee made up of the Austrian, Danish, French, Greek, and Spanish consuls. Close to a quarter million refugees of the Armenian Genocide
were settled in makeshift camps at La Quarantaine in the early 1920s. The camp was destroyed by fire in 1933 but by then most of the Armenian refugees had settled elsewhere in Beirut and Bourj Hammoud
. In 1951, 1,300 Palestinian refugees were settled in the area. By the mid seventies, the neighborhood had become a favela
of 27,000 people
During the civil war, the area was overtaken by Palestinian Fatah
guerrillas who were distributing arms and attempting to cut off Beirut's most important Christian quarter, Achrafieh
. Additionally from La Quarantaine, the Palestinians were able to control the northern entrance of Beirut, thus severing Achrafieh from the predominately-Christian, northern suburbs. In retaliation, Christian militias attacked Fatah guerrillas in Karantina, which was the scene of a massacre of Shi'a, Kurd
s and Palestinians. For this, see Karantina Massacre
.
Industries in La Quarantaine used to be centered around the production of glass, furniture, tile and bricks, leather products, but many of these industries were replaced with the production of metal-based, cereal silos, tanneries and artisanal industries.
The area is one of the most polluted parts of the city due to its vicinity to the port as well as the presence of the city slaughterhouse
and Sukleen's waste disposal and treatment center.
The southern part of the neighborhood adjacent to the highway is home to various commercial establishments, such as the Forum de Beyrouth, the multipurpose events center that hosted Beirut Rock Festival
in 2009. B 018
, the renowned nightclub is also located in the area.
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. The neighborhood lies east of the Port of Beirut
Port of Beirut
The Port of Beirut is the main port in Lebanon located on the eastern part of the Saint George Bay on Beirut's northern Mediterranean coast, west of the Beirut River. It is one of the largest and busiest ports on the Eastern Mediterranean...
, which also encircles it from the north, west of the Beirut River
Beirut River
Beirut River is a river in Lebanon. The river runs east to west, then curves north, separating the city of Beirut from its eastern suburbs, primarily Bourj Hammoud and Sin el Fil. According to popular legend, St...
and north of the Charles Helou
Charles Helou
Charles Helou was President of Lebanon from 1964 to 1970.Born in Beirut, Helou was the scion of a powerful Maronite family from Baabda. He graduated with honours from St. Joseph's University in Beirut in 1929, and went on to complete a Law degree in 1934...
highway and the Achrafieh
Achrafieh
Achrafieh, , is one of the oldest Christian districts of East Beirut, Lebanon.-Overview:It is located on a hill in the eastern part of Beirut alongside the shore. Achrafieh is both a residential and commercial district characterized by narrow winding streets and prestigious large apartment and...
district of Beirut.
The neighborhood takes its name from the French, La Quarantaine, because it was the location where a lazaretto
Lazaretto
A lazaretto or lazaret is a quarantine station for maritime travellers. Lazarets can be ships permanently at anchor, isolated islands, or mainland buildings. Until 1908, lazarets were also used for disinfecting postal items, usually by fumigation...
for travellers was built at the request of Ibrahim Pasha, the son of Muhammad Ali Pasha, the Governor of Egypt, who controlled Syria and Beirut in 1831. The lazaretto was to be managed by a committee made up of the Austrian, Danish, French, Greek, and Spanish consuls. Close to a quarter million refugees of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
were settled in makeshift camps at La Quarantaine in the early 1920s. The camp was destroyed by fire in 1933 but by then most of the Armenian refugees had settled elsewhere in Beirut and Bourj Hammoud
Bourj Hammoud
Bourj Hammoud is a suburb in North-East Beirut, Lebanon in the Metn district. The suburb is heavily populated by Armenians as it is where most survivors of the Armenian Genocide settled...
. In 1951, 1,300 Palestinian refugees were settled in the area. By the mid seventies, the neighborhood had become a favela
Favela
A favela is the generally used term for a shanty town in Brazil. In the late 18th century, the first settlements were called bairros africanos . This was the place where former slaves with no land ownership and no options for work lived. Over the years, many freed black slaves moved in...
of 27,000 people
During the civil war, the area was overtaken by Palestinian Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
guerrillas who were distributing arms and attempting to cut off Beirut's most important Christian quarter, Achrafieh
Achrafieh
Achrafieh, , is one of the oldest Christian districts of East Beirut, Lebanon.-Overview:It is located on a hill in the eastern part of Beirut alongside the shore. Achrafieh is both a residential and commercial district characterized by narrow winding streets and prestigious large apartment and...
. Additionally from La Quarantaine, the Palestinians were able to control the northern entrance of Beirut, thus severing Achrafieh from the predominately-Christian, northern suburbs. In retaliation, Christian militias attacked Fatah guerrillas in Karantina, which was the scene of a massacre of Shi'a, Kurd
Kürd
Kürd or Kyurd or Kyurt may refer to:*Kürd Eldarbəyli, Azerbaijan*Kürd Mahrızlı, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Goychay, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Jalilabad, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Qabala, Azerbaijan*Qurdbayram, Azerbaijan...
s and Palestinians. For this, see Karantina Massacre
Karantina Massacre
The Karantina massacre took place early in the Lebanese Civil War on January 18, 1976. With the breakdown in authority of the Lebanese government the militancy of radical factions increased...
.
Industries in La Quarantaine used to be centered around the production of glass, furniture, tile and bricks, leather products, but many of these industries were replaced with the production of metal-based, cereal silos, tanneries and artisanal industries.
The area is one of the most polluted parts of the city due to its vicinity to the port as well as the presence of the city slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
and Sukleen's waste disposal and treatment center.
The southern part of the neighborhood adjacent to the highway is home to various commercial establishments, such as the Forum de Beyrouth, the multipurpose events center that hosted Beirut Rock Festival
Beirut Rock Festival
Beirut Rock Festival is the biggest rock/metal concert in Lebanon, gathering some of the major international bands.- Beirut Rock Festival 2009 :...
in 2009. B 018
B 018
B 018, also pronounced in French, B Dix-Huit, is a hypogeal nightclub in the semi-industrial, Quarantaine neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon.Back in the 1980s while Lebanon was still amidst war, Naji Gebran believed in music as therapy to ease the stress of the war. He started organizing parties,...
, the renowned nightclub is also located in the area.