Last hour....

.... in Beirut before heading to the airport.

As usual very hectic program, 
and unusual short stay!

But it's been great to visit the organisations that we support. 4 years has been a long time, and so much has happened in Lebanon since then: 

2019: The October revolution. People went in the street protesting united in calling for social-economic justice

2020: Corona and the Beirut explosion causing more than 200 deaths, 7000 injuries and USD 15 billion property damage and around 300.000 homeless. 
 
2021: close down due to the pandemic. UN reported that more than 80 percent of the population did not have access to basic rights, including health, education and an adequate standard of living as adequate housing and electricity. The local currency lost 90 % of its value since 2019. 

2022: a total crackdown politically, economy, services, electricity just one hour per day. Poverty up to 80 percent, food prices registered an annual increase of more than 350%, people don't get their savings from their bank accounts. Years of corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement have lead to this "annus horribilis".  


The Lebanese population suffers, and the refugees are even in a worst situation than the Lebanese. 


This view might look beautiful, but the beaches in Beirut have been polluted for years by fecal bacteria and oil spills. 


Even if it's been strange to be in a country that has collapsed, it's been great to meet people that we have met since 2011.