Lebanon’s endless troubles blight Eid al-Adha spirit
ISTANBUL (AA): A relentless storm of economic hardships in Lebanon has left little trace of the celebrations and feasts that once marked the Eid al-Adha.
“Everything has changed for the worse,” according to Maria Abou Ali, a 22-year-old university student in the capital Beirut.
“Lebanese people are no longer able to afford even the basic needs.”
Since 2019, Lebanon has been grappling with a crippling economic crisis that the World Bank says is one of the worst in modern times.
Adding to that is political instability, with the country devoid of a fully functioning government for more than a year now, as Prime Minister Najib Mikati and his cabinet wield limited powers in their caretaker status.
For any Lebanese Muslim, the first thing about Eid al-Adha that comes to mind is sacrificing an animal, Abou Ali shared in a video call.
“But due to the sky-high dollar rate, low salaries and all sorts of financial problems in general, people are no more able to afford a sheep or a cow for the sacrifice,” she said.
The forex crisis is of staggering proportions. According to a recent World Bank report, the Lebanese pound had lost more than 98% of its pre-crisis value by February 2023.
The same report said inflation in Lebanon is “expected to remain among the highest globally, at a projected 165%” this year.
Many who were never in such a situation in their lives are now relying on charities for meat, Abou Ali said.
Celebrations and family gatherings, in essence, are a thing of the past.
“Almost every family has someone who is working abroad to support the ones back home. Those people can no longer come home for these special occasions because they would rather send the money to their families,” said Abou Ali.
“Children have also been robbed of the little moments of joy that we all had growing up, like when our parents would buy us new clothes for Eid,” she added.
“People are depressed and their mental health has been severely affected,” she said.
“We no longer feel joy. There’s no laughter or happiness,” said Abou Ali.
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