Lebanon Marks Eid With Subdued Celebrations Amid Economic Turmoil
As Lebanon grapples with a severe economic crisis, the country's residents struggle to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with muted festivities. Displaced families and the war-weary population find little to cheer about.
Lebanon, a country ravaged by an economic crisis and the aftereffects of war, is marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday with a somber tone. Sumeya Babaker, a Sudanese refugee living in the town of Kafra in southern Lebanon, has fled her home and sought shelter at a church in Beirut. Her story reflects the plight of many in the country, where the once-vibrant celebrations of Eid have been reduced to a muted affair.
The Lebanese people, long accustomed to the festive atmosphere of Eid, are finding it difficult to muster the same enthusiasm this year. The country's economic woes, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion, have left many struggling to make ends meet.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}Traditionally, Eid al-Fitr is a time of joyous gatherings, gift-giving, and feasting. But in Lebanon, the holiday has been overshadowed by the harsh realities of the present. Many families are unable to afford the luxuries that once defined the celebration, such as new clothes, elaborate meals, and the customary gift-giving to children.
Nour Salameh, a Lebanese resident, expressed the sentiment of many:
Source: The New York Times
