In Photos: Lebanon’s near-empty fridges tell the tale as economic crises plunge population into poverty

In Photos: Lebanon’s near-empty fridges tell the tale as economic crises plunge population into poverty

In Photos: Lebanon's near-empty fridges tell the tale as economic crises plunge population into poverty - Region - World



Lebanon's economic crisis has led to a collapse of the local currency and purchasing power, plunging whole segments of the population into poverty as exemplified by near-empty fridges in many households.

A 75% decline in the Lebanese pound since October has been reflected in soaring prices and savers have been frozen out of their deposits.

Unemployment has skyrocketed to 35%, and nearly half the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

The crisis is rooted in decades of institutionalized corruption and mismanagement that came to a head last October, igniting mass protests. The economic meltdown has plunged the fragile country into deep uncertainty and threatens to unleash further unrest and chaos.

Here is some photos that tell the tale of the crisis:

A Lebanese woman displays the content of her refrigerator at her apartment in Byblos, north of the capital Beirut, on June 19, 2020 (AFP)

A Lebanese woman stands next to her empty refrigerator in her apartment in the port city of Tripoli north of Beirut on June 17, 2020 (AFP)

A Lebanese woman displays the content