Historically Lebanon had well-managed power outages. It was clear that they did not have the fuel or the infrastructure to sustain power 24/7, so they adjusted. Businesses that needed refrigeration, for example, used generators, and life continued. The fuel shortage that began in the early summer might be the crowning blow of a perfect storm for Lebanon’s fragile economy.

The weekend of October 9-10 was a time of widespread power outages in Lebanon that stemmed from the fuel shortage. Without the fuel, the Lebanese could not operate their power plants. Small shops were closed, which are essential for the Lebanese to get food and other necessities. Perishable items like cheese and meats spoiled without refrigeration. With shortages come much higher prices, making everything less affordable. Life-saving medicines were no longer available, and when they were, the prices had become costly. Hunger is now a reality for the Lebanese.

Sources:

• https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/11/lebanon-suffers-24-hour-blackout-food-poisoning-business-closures-amid-fuel-crisis.html
• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/11/lebanon-fuel-crisis-hunger-food-prices
• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/11/fire-breaks-out-in-lebanons-zahrani-oil-facility
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58856914