By Mona Alami
"BEIRUT, Nov 30 (IPS) - The luxury brands and fashion powerhouses that line the streets of the Lebanese capital seem to suggest that this country is enjoying an hour of glory as the world is in the throes of a severe recession.
Reality is different. Away from downtown’s glittery sidewalks, people live in abject poverty, begging on the streets throughout the country’s main cities.
In stark contrast to the opulent cobblestone streets of the Beirut Central District, home to the likes of Fendi, Gucci and Cartier, in one of the back alleyways off the main Arab University road, a man in his sixties, lives out of his rundown, old car.
"Since my son died and I lost my job at a local plastic plant, I have been living off the streets," says Hassan, who begs on the streets to survive......
The reality of the Lebanese political system, built on allegiance to warlords and tribal figures who perceive revenue generating ministries as their personal piggybanks, only aggravates the problem of poverty. "In some Lebanese regions, any individual or government investment effort is systematically hindered by the local zaim (lord) in order to keep a tight rein on the local population," says one researcher on condition of anonymity.
With the government turning a blind eye to poverty in Lebanon, a large percentage of the population is left to live without sufficient basic needs, such as food, water and electricity.
Meanwhile, Beirut continues to bustle with activity and prosperity, crowded with big spenders and tourists who seem not to know or care how people live beyond the capital’s fancy streets. "
"BEIRUT, Nov 30 (IPS) - The luxury brands and fashion powerhouses that line the streets of the Lebanese capital seem to suggest that this country is enjoying an hour of glory as the world is in the throes of a severe recession.
Reality is different. Away from downtown’s glittery sidewalks, people live in abject poverty, begging on the streets throughout the country’s main cities.
In stark contrast to the opulent cobblestone streets of the Beirut Central District, home to the likes of Fendi, Gucci and Cartier, in one of the back alleyways off the main Arab University road, a man in his sixties, lives out of his rundown, old car.
"Since my son died and I lost my job at a local plastic plant, I have been living off the streets," says Hassan, who begs on the streets to survive......
The reality of the Lebanese political system, built on allegiance to warlords and tribal figures who perceive revenue generating ministries as their personal piggybanks, only aggravates the problem of poverty. "In some Lebanese regions, any individual or government investment effort is systematically hindered by the local zaim (lord) in order to keep a tight rein on the local population," says one researcher on condition of anonymity.
With the government turning a blind eye to poverty in Lebanon, a large percentage of the population is left to live without sufficient basic needs, such as food, water and electricity.
Meanwhile, Beirut continues to bustle with activity and prosperity, crowded with big spenders and tourists who seem not to know or care how people live beyond the capital’s fancy streets. "
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