With telecoms barely working, a plunging currency and young people emigrating, it’s a bleak Christmas for weary Lebanese
n Lebanon’s year of loss and deprivation, simple pleasures have steadily drained away along with its fortunes. But amid a crisis renowned for, few Lebanese had thought their ability to stay in touch was at risk – until a pre-Christmas warning sent shudders through the country.
Where is Christmas? It should be full of lighting and life. We were praying for the end of 2020, but this year is worse for sure Through it all, staying in touch had been at least one salvation; as had a hope that somehow, someday, things would get better. But as a cruel winter sets in, after an arduous year, there is little sign of a brighter horizon.
“It’s a very depressing Christmas,” says Sandy Gumijian, a shop owner. “There’s no lighting, no decoration. And I’m not selling anything except food and bread. It’s much worse than last year. Worse for the kids too.” How Lebanon sank so low continues to trouble many of its citizens, who left the country in droves this year – determined to start again in the Gulf states, Canada, the UK or Europe. While immigration numbers are hard to discern from a broken bureaucracy, removal companies have a backlog of several months for people leaving the country – and the local carrier, Middle East Airlines has done a brisk business on outbound routes.
“It was for me too,” says Saad Chamoun, who arrived from Dubai to visit his family this month. “But something changed in me. I left in July and have been gone for five months. I’m working in reinsurance and am happy. I don’t want to come home, because the country is no longer for me. All my friends are the same.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Christmas CANCELLED for tens of thousands of Aussies over COVID isolation rulesTens of thousands of people in NSW are facing Christmas in isolation as the Omicron COVID-19 variant continues to run rampant through the state. 7NEWS
Read more »
Baby animals celebrate their first-ever ChristmasThe Australian Reptile Park has shared photos of some of their newest additions getting into the festive spirit, celebrating their first-ever Christmas.
Read more »
Baby animals celebrate their first-ever ChristmasThe Australian Reptile Park has shared photos of some of their newest additions getting into the festive spirit, celebrating their first-ever Christmas.
Read more »
How Covid-19 restrictions will impact on your Christmas this yearChristmas will again be significantly impacted by Covid-19 as the threat of the Omicron strain heaps further pressure on governments trying to minimise the burden on families during the festive season.
Read more »
Baby animals celebrate their first-ever ChristmasSANTA PAWS: Meet the baby animals celebrating their first-ever Christmas in style at the Australian Reptile Park in NSW. 🎅🏻 Rupert the koala joey and Poppy the wombat joey are among the furry friends joining in the festivities. FULL GALLERY: 9News
Read more »