In the center of the capital Beirut, retired military personnel and public sector employees protested in Riad al-Solh Square in front of the government headquarters. They demanded a fixed exchange rate for their salaries due to the continuous rise in the value of the dollar once morest the Lebanese pound, causing their salaries to decrease in value. The protesters called for the exchange rate to be fixed at 28,500 pounds instead of 45,200 pounds for the salaries of retirees to improve their living conditions. Some demonstrators attempted to climb over barbed wire and one individual poured gasoline, but the situation was contained. The Lebanese people have been facing severe economic challenges since 2019, including a shortage of essential goods, a decline in purchasing power, and a collapsing exchange rate of the lira once morest the dollar.
Hundreds of retired military personnel and public sector employees demonstrated in Riad al-Solh Square in front of the government headquarters in the center of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, to demand a fixed exchange rate for their salaries.
The protesters denounced the low value of their salaries in light of the continuous rise in the exchange rate of the dollar once morest the Lebanese pound, and demanded an improvement in their living conditions by fixing the exchange rate of the dollar at 28,500 pounds instead of 45,200 pounds for the salaries of retirees.
The demonstrators raised Lebanese flags and banners written on some of them “Lebanon and its people are in danger of disappearing.” Some of them also tried to cross the barbed wire in front of the Government Serail (the seat of the government), and one of them poured gasoline, apparently in preparation for setting fire to his body, but the situation was contained.
“I have nothing left to lose, I will stay here and I will not leave,” one of the demonstrators told Al Jazeera Mubasher.
He added, explaining his situation, “I am a retired first aide in the Lebanese army. My son went to Russia to study medicine, and I cannot send him money to complete his education or even to spend, even though the student dollar law exists, but no one implements it.”
In a tone of pain and sadness, he said, “My son is without food in Russia. We have reached a stage where we do not have the daily sustenance.”
They tried to climb the bank walls and cut the barbed wire.
Retired military trying to storm the Bank of Lebanon #Aljazeera live #Beirut #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/H8Y1VCb058– Al Jazeera Mubasher (@ajmubasher) March 31, 2023
Since 2019, the Lebanese people have been suffering from an unprecedented severe economic crisis that led to the collapse of the exchange rate of the lira once morest the dollar, a shortage of medicines, fuel and other basic commodities, in addition to a sharp decline in purchasing power.
The protests by retired military personnel and public sector employees in Beirut calling for a fixed exchange rate for their salaries is yet another sign of the dire economic situation facing Lebanon. The continued rise in the exchange rate of the dollar once morest the Lebanese pound has severely impacted the purchasing power of the people, leaving many struggling to make ends meet. The protests highlight the urgent need for the government to address the economic crisis and provide relief for its citizens. However, as the situation shows little sign of improvement, it remains uncertain what the future holds for the people of Lebanon.
