sand on the beach Shot lies desolate. Meanwhile, the waves crash against him, angry with loneliness. Nobody comes to visit them anymore. Waters that previously gave color to parties, served as a backdrop for wedding portraits or adorned sunsets and cocktails galore. The same waves spread from abandonment in the rainy Lebanese winter. not far from here war drums They keep playing. The Mediterranean waters that hide the ruins of ancient cities are no longer tourist attraction of a country It is delivered to visitors as the main source of income. Now they are a portrait of a man Lebanon in war, abandoned to its own fate. In the main city in the south of the cedar country lies a reflection of a town that was already suffering before October 7. The world’s worst economic crisis since 1850According to the World Bank.
“There are no tourists there is nothing“Nobody’s coming,” complains the bartender at Tire’s trendiest hotel. Now about twenty people work for two guests. Of the 14 rooms always discussed in peacetime, only one is occupied. “People lose their jobThis 21-year-old young man, who prefers not to share his name for security reasons, tells El Periódico de Catalunya of the Prensa Ibérica group: Loneliness on the beaches of Tire is getting worse due to increasing stress. halo of doubt It is growing and reaching its streets, squares, hotels, restaurants and bars. Israeli Army and Lebanese militias since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip Hezbollah They clashed on the border shared by both countries. Beyond displacement of approximately 83,000 people border villages and human casualties – around 200 Lebanese killed, the majority Hezbollah– these conflicts helped further fracture the battered Lebanese economy.
“The situation is much worse now.”
In December, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) warned that Lebanon could lose 2 to 4 percent of its GDP as a result of the war. The World Bank also reminded: 2006 conflictThe epidemic, which lasted 33 days, caused “a loss of economic production of 10.5% of GDP and direct and indirect damage worth $ 3.1 billion.” The country of cedars was not in such a situation at that time. historic economic crisis. In the last four years Lebanon has witnessed the collapse of its national currency, breaking records inflation and fragile public services are collapsing. “The situation was already very bad with the economic fiasco, but now it is much worse,” he accuses this newspaper. Mona ShakerResponsible for the headquarters of the humanitarian aid association in Tire Action. NGOs that have so far supported Syrian and Palestinian refugees and the most vulnerable segments of the Lebanese population are preparing for the worst. Moreover, Lebanon’s southern region concentrates the two main sectors supporting Syria. economy. Therefore, it is also the scene of its collapse. On the one hand, tourismprovides up to 40% of national income, was seriously affected. Many countries such as Australia, France, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, He discouraged his citizens from going to Lebanon I advised those who were there to leave while commercial flights were available. There has been a development in the restaurant industry since October 7. Up to 80% drop in workplaces, according to the Lebanese association of restaurants, nightclubs and cafes. Ali Soueida He works as a waiter in a five-storey restaurant in Tire. “We don’t know when it will happen bombs will fall “On us,” he accuses. “There are attacks from planes and drones every day; “It’s very, very difficult to live this way,” he adds.
Agriculture is under siege
On the other hand, agriculture was one of the most affected. Southern Lebanon produces 22% fruit and citrus of the country and 38% of olivesAccording to the Ministry of Economy. Additionally, the agricultural sector is key to this region; 80% of South Lebanon’s local GDPAccording to UNDP’s report. “The population of border villages depends on agriculture” tobacco Shaker and olives were all they had,” he recalls. “In three months, they harvested enough to support themselves financially. all yearBut even that doesn’t exist anymore,” he says. As of January 1, Lebanon’s National Early Warning System had recorded approximately this. eight million square metersoccurred in an area of approximately 800 hectares. fires “The result of Israeli attacks.”
Lebanon has been blamed since the beginning of the conflict Israel to use white phosphorusIt is an incendiary substance whose use in civilian areas is prohibited by international law. war crime. “130 forest fires occurred as a result of the Israeli army bombarding our regions with white phosphorus and flares, and we extinguished these fires. More than 40,000 olive trees disappeared In the middle of the olive harvest season in southern Lebanon,” the interim Minister of Agriculture denounced. Abbas Hajj HasanThis is a statement. Farmers warned that these attacks were negatively affecting people. food sovereignty from the country. Unlike what happened in 2006, this time there is no one at the wheel in Lebanon. The country has neither a government nor a president, largely due to the inability of political leaders who are corrupt and to blame for the economic collapse to reach an agreement.
“If this continues Next summer will be very difficult because the majority of people will not come to Lebanon for fear of war,” Soueida predicts. “But the Lebanese we are strong people“We’ve already been through this and we’re not afraid,” he says, surrounded by empty tables with plates and cutlery. There is no sign of tourism. Even though everyone tries to avoid getting into political debate, they know it’s not right. “This is a humanitarian cause, everyone should be more involved,” says the young bartender in the hotel lobby, where he is playing checkers with his friends. “Both the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah are doing their own thing, so protect this country“, he finishes before continuing the game. Outside, the rain continues to tease the waves moving without any spectators.