Even during the worst of times the Lebanese have always managed to make it through the Christmas season. They love this season and most of all their banquet spreads that bring together all sorts of Mediterranean mezzes and grilled meats.
For most of the Lebanese, open doors and full bellies are a sign of pride and joy during the festive season. But this year things have changed in a drastic way. Food is short and money is scarce. This year’s Christmas season for Lebanon means an economic crisis that has hit rock bottom and no light is visible at the end of the tunnel.
There has been no government in Lebanon since the port explosion last August, and this means more inflation and a continuous fluctuation in USD/LBP exchange rate in addition to the fact that the much-needed economic reforms cannot take place.
“The economic situation is extremely bad. Imports have dropped by fifty per cent this year. Thirty per cent of all retail shops have already closed down. Another 20 per cent will soon follow” says Bassam Bawab, Lebanese economic analyst in an interview with CM. “What did you expect? We are in an economic stagnation since October 2019 and the Lebanese inflation is the second largest in the world. More than 350 per cent in 2020,” he explains.
For business owners, things aren’t getting better. Since the U.S dollar is hard to get a hold of in Lebanon, many of the importers have reduced the amount of products they sell, or simply left the market, if not the country itself.
“Lebanon is suffering from a dangerous depletion of resources, including human capital, with brain drain becoming an increasingly desperate option,” the World Bank warned in a statement on December 1.
“A year into Lebanon’s severe economic crisis, deliberate lack of effective policy action by authorities has subjected the economy to an arduous and prolonged depression,” the World Bank said.
With an estimated 300,000 homes hit after the Beirut Port explosion on August 4. Some old people are spending Christmas almost out in the cold. Many houses are still without windows others even without doors. Despite the efforts of many NGO’s who are working around the clock to make sure that Beirut is restored to its former state soon.
Christiane, 55, is still trying to patch up things in her semi repaired home five months after the explosion. “Last year things were difficult, and I had to let go of the usual Christmas shopping I used to do. But I managed to have a small and warm gathering with the family. But never in my nightmares have I imagined what this year feels like” she says in a broken voice to CM.
“I lost my job a few months back, and I said to myself it happens. Many of my friends lost theirs as well. Two months later I was almost killed in my own house by this horrible explosion” she explains. Christiane lives alone in a residential area situated half a mile away from the port. Almost every home was severely damaged.
“I cannot think of Christmas or anything else. I just want my life back. I want to restore my home to what it was and try to find some peace of mind. This is all I hope for; all I pray for every night” she adds.
Thousands are going through this in today’s Beirut. Banks have imposed informal capital controls, limiting the access to needed funds for business and people’s savings. This has forced almost everyone into a rationing system.
The streets that were once decorated in a glamorous fashion are now mostly pale and impoverished. Beirut is still scared and the once vibrant streets have made way for a deadly silence. Those who knew Beirut in its heyday during Christmas season will barely recognize it today. Many of the towns do not have the means to decorate their streets anymore.
Christiane relates to this and tries to make sense of what is happening: “Have you read the news today? Do you know the exchange rate of the Lebanese Pound versus the U.S dollars? I have to ask this everyday sometimes twice in order to decide what to do with my remaining U.S dollars. Shall I sell some to keep going? It is really hard to keep up with the prices of the products every week” she complains.
Those who aren’t jobless like Christiane aren’t doing better since the minimum wage in Lebanon today is worth less than $100 when payed in Lebanese pounds.
“This year on Christmas I am going to light up candle for the sake of our country and for the souls of those who left for a better place. I am going to try to heat up my room and get some rest. This is all I need!” Christiane adds.
“The average salary is even less than $400 per month in Lebanon these days and the GDP per capita is less than $4,500 per year” adds Bawab.
For Bassem Bawab things are clear “This Christmas will be the worst Christmas since WWII”.
