Letter from Lebanon: Welcome to a life of austerity!

Archbishop Samir Nassar, Maronite Archbishop of Damascus writes:

The banks in Lebanon have been lending money for 29 years to the State…. Now the State is bankrupt and unable to pay back.

The result of this is that individuals no longer have the possibility to take out more than $600 a week from their personal accounts. This applies also to the many Syrians and establishments who placed their money in the Lebanese banks so that they could avoid the blockage imposed by the Syrian regime on their accounts over the past nine years.

What can one do therefore to help the 13 salaried workers and 600 assisted families at this time of Christmas? This is yet another problem to hit the population.

This financial problem imposed by the Iranian-American stronghold on the whole of the Middle East disturbs any hope of a peaceful solution. The local currency is falling rapidly in value against the dollar, which is now becoming a rarity in circulation. We must remember that all imports of essential goods must be paid for in foreign currency.

This new situation means that the people must once again get used to a life of austerity and a greater solidarity: Going to work sharing places in a car, or relying on public transport. Life is becoming bitter to bear. The larger shopping places are almost empty, and family life has once more become a treasured gift; the same with Faith, once more placed at the forefront of life, and a dynamic witness.

Can one speak of a renewed spirit forced by the economic crisis? Whatever is happening it is surely a new society, which is growing around us on the eve of Christmas.