The Role of the Lebanese Diaspora Today: Local citizens pleading for help, now more than ever

Maria Wehbe, Featured Writer

August 14th, 2021

When thinking of Lebanon, one does not simply think of those residing within the country’s borders: so many Lebanese expatriates live all over the globe, accounting to over 16 million compared to the 6 million Lebanese residents. It comes as no surprise that so many people of Lebanese descent reside outside of the country, especially given its current circumstances: an on-going pandemic that hasn’t been dealt with properly, a crashing economy, hyperinflation, a deadly port explosion, an increase in poverty rates, the scarcity of basic resources, and political disruption. Although some people are fortunate enough to have the choice of leaving, this isn’t the case for everyone. Being Lebanese today has never been tougher, given the dependence on foreign aid: they aren’t able to provide food and medication for their families, nor can they fill up their cars with gas in order to go to work given the shortage of fuel, and the list goes on. Therefore, it is vital for the Lebanese diaspora to come to the aid of the country today more than ever: they can change their co-patriots’ outcome in more ways than one and can make way for improvement and prosperity. However, there’s only so much they can do and in the long run, their help and aid might not secure the future this country is looking for.

First and foremost, it is important to note that a country’s diaspora can play an important role in its economic development. It can promote trade and foreign direct investment, create businesses, spur entrepreneurship, and transfer new skills and knowledge. Although some policymakers see their nationals abroad as a loss, they can be a very big asset to the country.

Today, the Lebanese diaspora has taken it upon itself to help out in any way, shape or form given the current economic crisis— one of the three most severe that the world has ever witnessed since the mid-19th century according to the World Bank. They are filling up their suitcases with medicine, money, and supplies to distribute to families in need once they come to Lebanon. Philippe Aftimos, a 39-year old doctor based in Brussels, is currently trying to secure a year’s worth of medication for his family upon his upcoming visit to Lebanon, ranging from medication for depression and cholesterol to hypertension. “I don’t want to live in the anxiety of uncertainty [over my family’s health]. It’s been two years since I last visited Lebanon… I am obviously very worried about the situation and I am in heartbreak every morning.”, said Aftimos.

The diaspora often organizes many relief efforts in response to Lebanon’s recurrent humanitarian crises. After the blast, millions of dollars were collected in an attempt to support the country, however, it wasn’t sustainable on the long run. One way that the diaspora can efficiently help today is by pressuring the international community and local power brokers to accept structural and fundamental reform in an attempt to secure much needed funding from the IMF. The diaspora should be supporting the Lebanese education system, job creations, job placements, and mentorship from abroad – these are the sorts of things that can be asked of them to do, yet the country should not overstep its boundaries in this regard.

With that being said, it is clear that Lebanon heavily relies on remittances from its millions of expatriates from all corners of the world in order to keep the economy somewhat afloat – and it is one of the highest levels in all of the MENA region. Actually, said remittances were equivalent to 13% of the country’s entire gross domestic product in 2018. The government is heavily relying on the diaspora and tourists in order to help revitalize the economy, however this should not be the case: there isn’t an economic recovery plan that would dig the country out of the rabbit hole that it is currently in, and so stalling and stirring away the attention from the current crisis is all a scheme. “Prioritizing remittances means refocusing on these short-term remedies at the expense of a credible financial plan and solution”, said Postdoctoral research fellow at University College Dublin Mohamad Faour. Although the diaspora is doing whatever it takes to help the country, it shouldn’t be their job to do so in the first place. So many NGOs are calling out to the diaspora to come in aid to local citizens because they no longer see any other alternative; this could easily be the country’s downfall just as much as its salvation.

The Lebanese diaspora has proven itself to be adaptable, capable and hardworking in more ways than one, which is why they are a source of pride for those residing in Lebanon, given that they are the ones representing the country abroad. They succeed wherever they go and are at the top of their fields in many industries – finance, consulting, engineering, architecture, education, etc. In fact, members of the Lebanese International Finance Executives (LIFE) organization account for over 850 leaders on a global scale. They are showing people all over the world the true worth of Lebanese citizens and what they are truly made of – resilience, willpower, passion and hard work.

Although the diaspora is a source of pride and joy for those residing in Lebanon, the expectations that others have for them can sometimes be too much to bear. “It’s like watching a loved one die slowly of an incurable disease. I am heartbroken that the country continues to hemorrhage people and minds by making their lives intolerable”, said Ramsey Nasser, a 34-year-old software developer based in Brooklyn, New York. Watching the situation unravel in such a way from afar is very difficult, and a lot of the time, we seem to forget that. This is the harsh reality of being a Lebanese citizen living abroad today. No matter what, these expatriates tried to make themselves useful, at least as much as possible from abroad. Yet, one must reevaluate how beneficial the aid and help truly is, because once again, this is a short-term solution to a long-term problem.