Amid multiple crises, Christmas spirit absent in Lebanon this year

Decorations that once lit entire neighborhoods remain unlit and shops are stocked but vacant of any shoppers this Christmas season in Lebanon after multiple crises impacted people's purchasing power - and their spirits.

In a shopping street in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, Santa clause's toys are all dressed in red waiting to be bought, but two days before Christmas eve, nobody came.

Lebanon suffered from an economic meltdown that the World Bank has called one of the worst depressions of modern history, the economic collapse was followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive explosion of Beirut Port that destroyed parts of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 200, and wounding thousands.

Once a month-long festival of lights and parades, Lebanon's streets are very different from previous years, with no power after sunset due to an electricity crisis.

After 21 years of doing business in the area, Ramzi Faysal said he has never witnessed this before.

"Every year people and bands used to come to this street and celebrate, but this year no one showed up, the street used to be all lit and shops were forced to open till 10 or 11 at night, now there is nothing," he said.

The crash has caused the Lebanese pound to lose more than 90% of its value and savers to be frozen out of their deposits in the paralyzed banking system.

The Lebanese pound, which was exchanged freely at 1,500 to the dollar before the crisis, has collapsed to around 27,300 on the unofficial market.

A Christmas tree decorated in the shape of the Lebanese flag was not shining with Christmas lights.

 

 

 

 

REUTERS