BEIRUT — Lebanese citizens are taking action on the power outage crisis and recent increase in theft by lighting the streets in a number of Beirut neighborhoods and villages of the south and the Bekaa in the east. Thanks to the informal and individual effort, people are able to go out at night somewhat safely.

For months, most of Lebanon's villages and towns have been suffering blackouts for days or weeks. Many residents rely on private generators to supply power to homes and institutions for a few hours during the day, but most streets are dark at night. 

Nadim Beydoun, the founder of the “Light Your Path” campaign that started in late September, told Al-Monitor, “There have been many robberies in the Beirut area lately amid the blackouts. I came up with the idea of organizing generator owners to light the streets. We provide them with the light bulbs and they provide the electricity.”

He added, “Everyone participated in their own way. One woman hung a light bulb on her balcony, a hairdresser installed a bulb in front of his salon and we put lamps on the electricity poles and connected them to the generator supply.”