As Lebanon’s economy reels, civil society groups pick up the slack
Since December 2013, runaway inflation has pushed the consumer price index up by 356.65 per cent. Whilst the authorities seem unable to do anything, people are taking matters in their own hands. Together LiBeirut is one group making a difference.
Beirut (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In Lebanon, a country reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis, civil society groups are looking for and sometimes finding new and creative ways to offer help.
According to the latest figures available from Lebanon’s Central Statistics Administration (ACS[*]), the monthly consumer price index (CPI) for April rose by 7.76 per cent for an annual rate of 121.66 per cent. This is down from 157.86 per cent in March. However, the CPI rose 356.65 per cent over the December 2013 reading.
Currently, the Lebanese pound is trading around 12,500 per US dollar on the parallel market (compared to 1,507.5 per dollar at the official rate), down from 15,000 per dollar in March.
The price of clothing is up by 27.27 per cent in April, or 336.95 per cent, year-on-year, just behind the restaurant and hospitality industry (400.63 per cent). Food and soft drink prices rose by 19.2 per cent over the previous month or 228.61 per cent compared to April 2020.
The cost of healthcare also increased by 9.52 per cent in one month and 26.15 per cent on an annual basis. Education costs instead remained the same compared to the previous month (up 10.22 per cent year-on-year). Transportation costs increased by 239.46 per cent in one year whilst water, electricity, gas and fuels jumped by 83.12 per cent over a year.
Northern Lebanon saw the largest price increase with 10.69 per cent, followed by Nabatieh (9.82 per cent), South Lebanon (8.33 per cent), Mount Lebanon (6.9 per cent), Beirut (6.35 per cent) and the Beqaa (6.29 per cent).
Faced with the inertia of the authorities, who have not yet announced a plan to rebuild the capital after last August’s devastating explosions, nor offered any medical and social assistance to the population, individuals have been filling in the gaps.
Together LiBeirut was created last September by a group of friends from different professional backgrounds, bringing together three NGOs (Lebanon Needs, Cénacle de la lumière, The House of Christmas),
“We used our connections and knowledge to get the necessary funds. We are also using our professional experiences to help rehabilitate the city,” said Georges Tohmé, co-founder of Together LiBeirut, who works in finance and real estate in London, speaking to L'Orient-Le Jour.
Thanks to donations, Together LiBeirut has contributed to the rehabilitation of the Geitaoui, Rosaire and Quarantaine (Karantina) hospitals as well as the Nabaa dispensary. it also helped equip the St. Marc medical centre in Bourj Hamoud.
Since it started, the NGO’s campaign has also expanded in reach, from health care to psychosocial support, restoration and improvement of businesses located in the areas damaged by the Beirut port explosions, not to mention the preservation of the city's heritage.
This has meant helping residents and businesses in local neighbourhoods. “We have decided to offer strategic support to 90 micro-enterprises in Bourj Hamoud, Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh,” Joumana Nasr, Together LiBeirut’s point person in this area, told L'Orient-Le Jour.
Beneficiaries include local businesses, such as merchants, a hairdresser, a beautician, a baker, and a seamstress, who received goods, equipment and advice to resume their activities.
In terms of rehabilitating historic buildings, the NGO completely renovated the Tamish buildings in Mar Mikhael, as well as the Rif, in Gemmayzeh. In cooperation with the Beirut Heritage Initiative, five traditional buildings are currently undergoing rehabilitation.
“Through our renovation projects, we are trying to preserve the social fabric of the city by working on traditional buildings that were lived in and also hosted businesses before 4 August, 2020,” said Céline Harb, Sports Challenge coordinator and founding member of The House of Christmas.
[*] Administration centrale de la statistique
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10/09/2021 17:17
07/04/2021 13:03
