BEIRUT — The economic and living situation in Lebanon is ever-worsening. A large part of the population is unable to secure their most basic needs of food, medicine and education, as prices of goods and services are rising while the local currency continues to deprecite against the dollar. The Lebanese are losing their purchasing power with many having lost their jobs due to the financial crisis that has plagued the country since 2019. Then came the Beirut port explosion on Aug. 4, which killed more than 200 people, injured 6,000 others and destroyed much of the capital.
The Lebanese authorities are now planning to lift subsidies on basic commodities, namely flour, fuel, medicines, subsidized food commodities and medical supplies, which could have disastrous social repercussions on most of the Lebanese people.