Lebanon Protests Intensify Amid Pandemic-Driven Financial Cr

Lebanon is in turmoil.

The country’s long-running financial crisis, which led to the resignation of its prime minister in October, has only gotten worse because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Before the pandemic, the World Bank projected that 45% of people in Lebanon would be below the poverty line in 2020. Now the government believes that up to 75% of people are in need of aid, Social Affairs Minister Ramzi Musharrafieh told CNN.

Anti-government protesters returned to the street with a vengeance this week after nearly two months on lockdown. In Tripoli, the country’s second-largest city and its poorest, protesters hurled Molotov cocktails at banks and clashed with security forces.

Since the uprising began last year, the Lebanese lira has been in a free fall, losing about half of its value. Consequently, food prices are soaring.

“Protesters in Tripoli have lost everything. They don’t have work, food, water, electricity,” said photographer Diego Ibarra Sánchez, who has been documenting the protests. “Everybody is descending into chaos.”

A protester throws a rock at soldiers on Tuesday. Demonstrations in Lebanon first began in October when the government proposed a tax on WhatsApp calls, along with other austerity measures.

A protester lies on the floor after being wounded by a rubber bullet in Tripoli.

Protesters in Tripoli set banks on fire and vandalized their storefronts. The army responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Diego Ibarra Sánchez

A member of the Lebanese Civil Defense extinguishes a police car that was set on fire by protesters in Tripoli.

Diego Ibarra Sánchez

A soldier stops a man on a motorcycle during Tuesday's clashes. — A soldier stops a man on a motorcycle during Tuesday’s clashes.

Diego Ibarra Sánchez

Red paint is seen on a burned ATM on Tuesday. The paint reads "hair cut = head cut." — Red paint is seen on a burned ATM on Tuesday. The paint reads “hair cut = head cut.”

Diego Ibarra Sánchez

"We are hungry," protesters cried as they faced off with security forces this week. — “We are hungry,” protesters cried as they faced off with security forces this week.

Diego Ibarra Sánchez

A police car burns in Tripoli on Tuesday. Diego Ibarra Sánchez

People watch the clashes from a balcony in Tripoli. Diego Ibarra Sánchez

A protester is carried after being wounded by a rubber bullet.

Diego Ibarra Sánchez

Protesters vandalize a bank in Tripoli's Al-Nour Square. — Protesters vandalize a bank in Tripoli’s Al-Nour Square. Diego Ibarra Sánchez

"People are really, really desperate," Mira Minkara, a Tripoli tour guide, entrepreneur and activist told CNN. — “People are really, really desperate,” Mira Minkara, a Tripoli tour guide, entrepreneur and activist told CNN. “What happened (Tuesday) is an authentic reaction to the desperation, to the frustration and to the pain that people are feeling. It’s not normal pain. It’s the pain of when you’re hungry, you’re angry and you’re sad that you can’t pay rent any more and you can’t eat.”

“People are really, really desperate,” Mira Minkara shared. “What happened (Tuesday) is an authentic reaction to the desperation, to the frustration and to the pain that people are feeling. It’s not normal pain. It’s the pain of when you’re hungry, you’re angry and you’re sad that you can’t pay rent any more and you can’t eat.” Diego Ibarra Sánchez

“Lebanese soldiers are Lebanese citizens,” said photographer Diego Ibarra Sánchez. “They are suffering as their families, too. We´ve seen army soldiers crying, tearing up inside a military vehicle, or hugging protesters as troops moved in to reopen key highways a few months ago.” He also noted instances of what he believes is excessive brutality. Diego Ibarra Sánchez