Survival of the fittest - Lebanon vs. Covid-19

Opinion Analysis by Joelle El Sheikh, Staff Writer

May 12th, 2020

“My salary is now worth two cartons of milk”, a mother of two children yelled at Thursday’s protest in Tripoli. As the economic situation tightens its grip on the Lebanese economy, citizens find themselves in an impossible dilemma: Risk getting exposed to the virus or silently suffer with barely enough money for basic necessities. 

The spread of COVID-19 has crippled economies all around the world, even reaching the ‘greatest’ of them all: the United States. Therefore, the situation in Lebanon is not the first of its kind. That is, however, if you don’t count the pre-existing economic recession. The Lebanese economy has witnessed uprisings, civil wars, uprisings, and still, none of that comes remotely close to what we’re facing today. When we hear grown men and women crying over their inability to buy basic food supplies for their families, workers having to beg banks for their money, and businesses having to close down for the simple reason that they, just like everyone else, cannot afford to lose anymore, that’s when we need to realize that somewhere along the way, something went wrong even according to Lebanese standards.

While all countries have been hit by the catastrophic effects of the pandemic on the economy, they’ve all dealt with it differently. Almost ninety countries have adopted new cash transfer programs-where governments put money directly into people’s accounts- to help mitigate the effects of the virus on their daily lives. Countries like Germany and New Zealand took it a step further and made it a point for small business owners to be able to withstand the difficulties, and supported them through small loans. In Lebanon, unfortunately, citizens did not receive any significant amount of financial help from the government, despite the fact that they desperately need it. Not only that, but prices of goods and services have sky-rocketed in the past couple of weeks, alongside the slow deterioration of the Lebanese Lira.

seeing as most of the Lebanese population earn their salaries in the Lebanese Lira, the dip in its value alongside a spike in the prices of goods have created a desperate environment for the average Lebanese man/woman. To put things more into perspective, the American University of Beirut, one of the most prominent universities in the Middle East, stated that it has struggled to maintain its costs due to the dire economic situation and the de-stabilization of the Lebanese Lira. Thus, it’s safe to say that the pandemic simply acted as a catalyst to the deteriorating situation in Lebanon. 

Back when the revolution was at its peak, reports about suicides across Lebanon filled the news. One man committed suicide because he was unable to give his daughter 1,000 Lebanese Lira (which at the time was less than 1 dollar) to buy a sandwich. Another man lit himself on fire. It wasn’t an average economic recession, it was the beginning of what seems like the end. 

In situations like these, it would seem normal-if not necessary- for people to take on the streets and protest because if they don’t, they will, quite literally, die.

However, going down to protest during a worldwide pandemic also implies the possibility of infection, which can also lead to death. Many people are quick to judge and say that the choice is an obvious one; stay safe, stay home. But is home really safe? Is it safe if I can’t bring food to the table every night? Is it safe if I have to tell my kids they might not be going to school the following year? Is it safe to live every day knowing that if anything went wrong I won’t be able to pay for my own hospitalization? For many, safety does not exist anymore, the only thing that exists is desperation.

For that reason, while going down to protest may seem like a choice, it isn’t. It’s a cry for help. When basic food supplies like cheese, milk, and even eggs become out of your budget, you have no choice but to ask for help, from a friend, from a family member, but most importantly, from your government. When asked about this, the minister of health Hamad Hassan stated that although some might not care about their own lives, they must care about others, and that is why people must stay home as much as possible. 

There are no doubts about the dangers of not abiding by the social distancing regulations, and there are certainly no doubts about the need to stay safe through wearing masks, gloves, and avoiding contact. That being said, the man who has bread on his table should always consider that the man next door may not. In fact, with the ongoing situation, the likes are that neither of these men are able to provide bread on the table anymore. We must remember this, and remember that wecannot judge a man fighting for his right as a human being; to live honorably.

The Lebanese government has a responsibility towards its people, one that it must uphold, no matter the cost. Politics has always been the main concern in Lebanon, whether it’s about one political party or about foreign intervention, politics has always taken priority. Perhaps it’s time to practice politics the way it was originally meant to be practiced: government of the people, by the people, for the people.