The deteriorating living crisis has forced the Lebanese to breach lockdown measures and take to the streets in protest against the unprecedented rise in consumer prices due to the fall of the local currency value against the USD.
While the outbreak of the coronavirus had a negative impact on world economies, the measures imposed to confront it in Lebanon exacerbated the economic, financial, and living situation.
Amid liquidity scarcity, the value of US dollar continued soaring to reach LBP 4,200 in the parallel market, while food prices rose in an unprecedented fashion, leaving a large portion of the Lebanese unable to afford their basic needs.
Over the past few days, activists called for reviving the protests that the country has witnessed since October, but this time with face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.
While the various Lebanese regions responded to the call, albeit at different degrees, the center of the protests was the city of Tripoli, the capital of the north, which has long been known as the “city of the poor.”
It is also the first region to lose one of its youth in the second stage of the uprising, as a result of the confrontations between the demonstrations and Army forces.
According to the World Bank’s estimates, 55% of the Lebanese people are now below the poverty line, while in recent months, hundreds of commercial establishments have been closed and thousands of employees laid off.
Moreover, banking restrictions on withdrawals made the banks the target of angry protesters, especially in Beirut, the North, and Tripoli, where many branches were attacked and ATMs smashed or put on fire.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Professor and Economist Jad Shaaban said: “The people’s anger is mounting and the circle of those suffering from the economic and social crisis is expanding. The movements that we are witnessing today will double in the coming days, and will certainly include citizens who did not participate in the October demonstrations.”
