Rotting garbage has been piling up on the streets of Lebanon's capital city, Beirut, for a month and people are at their breaking point.
Beirut's main landfill was closed more than a month ago, and authorities have yet to come to an agreement on how to deal with the mounting trash.
On Wednesday, protesters took to the streets demanding a solution, and police responded with water cannons.
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));Footage of today's protest - Part 1Footage showing activists facing police brutality. We are going back this Saturday at 6pm at Riad El Solh. https://www.facebook.com/events/1028809990465441/Taken by Ali HamouchPosted by طلعت ريحتكم on Wednesday, August 19, 2015
The protests quickly turned violent, with riot police going toe-to-toe with protesters on the street.
Protesters reportedly threw rocks and bottles at police, while police pushed back protesters with shields and batons.
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));#طلعت_ريحتكمPosted by Zeinoun Naboulsi on Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Lebanon's health minister, Wael Abu Faour, has warned that the country that it is on the brink of a "major health disaster," unless an immediate solution is found.
Some residents have resorted to burning the trash on the streets, sending toxic fumes over the city's skyline and into people's homes.
Welcome to the #Lebanese University, Faculty of Law, Political and Administrative Sciences, Jal El Dib. #طلعت_ريحتكم pic.twitter.com/kVc6HyKiTL— Joelle Hatem (@joellehatem) August 16, 2015
Abu Faour said Monday that Lebanon's air, water and food were threatened with contamination and called for an emergency committee to come up with immediate recommendations.
Political disputes in recent weeks have blocked the government from taking decisions, including agreeing on alternative ways of dealing with the garbage crisis.
Protesters who have dubbed themselves "You Stink" have planned a large-scale protest in downtown Beirut over the garbage issue on Saturday.
Some information from the Associated Press.