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Source: https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/b...-misery-of-lebanons-economic-collapse-471808/
Blackouts darken misery of Lebanon's economic collapse
Published: 3 hours ago
By Imad Creidi and Ellen Francis
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Samira Hanna spends a lot of time in the dark. Her old Beirut apartment gets less than two hours of electricity a day, and with Lebanon's economy in ruins, the grandmother can barely afford candles, let alone a private generator.
"I sit outside on the stairs for some light," she said. "We don't watch television. I wait for the electricity to come so I can wash clothes ... And there's nothing in the fridge, believe me."
Exacerbated by Lebanon's financial meltdown, fuel shortages have worsened existing power cuts, piling further hardship on Lebanese struggling with job losses, soaring prices and hunger.
Parts of the capital Beirut now get just a few hours of electricity a day in the summer heat. Some residents said the blackouts were worse than during the 1975-1990 civil war...
...Even hospitals have not been spared: the main Beirut public hospital treating coronavirus cases had to close some operating rooms and turn off air conditioning in its hallways, local media reported....
Blackouts darken misery of Lebanon's economic collapse
Published: 3 hours ago
By Imad Creidi and Ellen Francis
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Samira Hanna spends a lot of time in the dark. Her old Beirut apartment gets less than two hours of electricity a day, and with Lebanon's economy in ruins, the grandmother can barely afford candles, let alone a private generator.
"I sit outside on the stairs for some light," she said. "We don't watch television. I wait for the electricity to come so I can wash clothes ... And there's nothing in the fridge, believe me."
Exacerbated by Lebanon's financial meltdown, fuel shortages have worsened existing power cuts, piling further hardship on Lebanese struggling with job losses, soaring prices and hunger.
Parts of the capital Beirut now get just a few hours of electricity a day in the summer heat. Some residents said the blackouts were worse than during the 1975-1990 civil war...
...Even hospitals have not been spared: the main Beirut public hospital treating coronavirus cases had to close some operating rooms and turn off air conditioning in its hallways, local media reported....