DAILY NEWS
Gas Stations Ask ISF for Security Protection
The fuel shortage has led to heightened tensions and security concerns at Lebanon’s gas stations as Lebanese struggle to fill up their vehicles. More than 140 gas stations are now refusing to receive more gasoline from distributors because of the security concerns. They say their workers have faced physical assault and black mail and are calling on the Internal Security forces for protection. [Naharnet]
Lebanon Raises Bread Prices For the Fifth Time in a Year
For the fifth time in a year, Lebanon has raised the price of subsidized bread 18 percent more than the last raise in February. The MInistry of Economy and Trade said it had to raise bread prices because the central bank ended sugar subsidies which raises the cost of bread production. [Al Jazeera]
Lebanon’s Elderly Struggle to Take Care of Themselves
The elderly in Lebanon are having a difficult time caring for themselves as the country continues to face economic and financial crises. About 10 percent of Lebanon’s population is over 65 years old and around 80 percent of them do not have retirement benefits or health care coverage. Those who had savings stored up in banks have been unable to access their money and because of the currency devaluation savings accounts have lost about 90 percent of their value. [AP]
OPINION & ANALYSIS
People – Still at the Center of Lebanese Society
Jean AbiNader
AbiNader writes: “Time and time again, as I spent more time in workforce development, the same negative images of Arabs were repeated: lazy, hard to motivate, careless, unconcerned. I found that this was not the case at all for the Lebanese, who along with their Palestinian counterparts provided the skilled and professional workers for the first two generations working on development in the GCC. In banking, construction, computers, services, and myriad other jobs, the Lebanese excelled at building systems that would carry the GCC countries until their own citizens, educated and trained at home and abroad, stepped up to take responsibility for their national development outcomes, a process still ongoing. These negative stereotypes thrive in states where personal initiative, merit-based hiring, and achievement are subject to the whims of government employees who are paid no matter the outcomes. One only has to look at the success of expatriate Arabs to appreciate the profound and important contributions they continue to make to their countries’ development – from the outside. In Lebanon, the biggest concern today, as a result of its multiple crises, is the loss of its most valuable resource – its skilled workforce.”
Foreign Policy
The Lebanese Army Needs Cash
Bilal Saab
Saab writes: “The policy debate in Washington, intensified during the Trump administration, over whether the United States should increase or even continue its support of the Lebanese army misses a fundamental point: For the United States, the force – whose commander, Gen. Joseph Aoun, just this week was desperately asking for assistance at a French-led donor conference – is the only game in town that can preserve the United States’ position and influence in the country.”
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.