Protesters blocked the main roads in a number of cities and the entrances to Beirut, in protest against the deteriorating economic and living conditions, under the slogan “Day of Rage”.
Protesters used burning tires, cement stones; waste bins and private cars to block roads entrances, and some owners of large trucks for transporting goods put them in the middle of streets to block traffic as part of the popular protest movements after the collapse of the Lebanese pound.
In recent days, the Lebanese pound recorded an unprecedented record low since Lebanon entered the cycle of economic collapse a year and a half ago, as the exchange rate against the dollar approached 11,000 in the black market, which caused an additional rise in prices, and a rush to the shops to buy and store food.
The demonstrators also spread their bodies on the roads, and traffic in the capital Beirut and most Lebanese regions witnessed a congestion due to the increasing operations of blocking the streets by the demonstrators, as the security forces diverted traffic to other alternative streets.
Monday’s closure coincides with Lebanon’s entry into the final phase of easing the strict closure restrictions imposed since the middle of last month in an effort to curb the growing outbreak of coronavirus.
The Oxygen Companies in Lebanon appealed to citizens to “facilitate the passage of their trucks on all roads to meet the need of hospitals for medical oxygen for humanitarian necessity, especially during the Corona pandemic.”
In turn, Michel Aoun the Lebanese President, asked the security services to reveal the plans that harm the country, especially after the disclosure of information about the presence of external bodies and platforms working to strike the national currency and the state’s financial position.
“President Aoun requested, during the economic, financial, security and judicial meeting in Baabda Palace, from the relevant departments and authorities to suppress the violations that occur, especially the manipulation and monopoly of food prices,” the Lebanese presidency said, on its Twitter page.
Since the summer of 2019, Lebanon has experienced the worst economic crisis that has led to the loss of the local currency more than 80% of its value against the dollar, exacerbated inflation, and caused tens of thousands to lose their jobs and sources of income, especially in light of the spread of the “Corona” virus pandemic.
