The Weight of Collapse: Understanding Lebanon's Economic Crushing

Lebanon isn't just facing an economic crisis; it is experiencing a relentless crushing. Le terme "LBC Crushing" – often used locally as shorthand for the broader national collapse – evokes an image of immense pressure bearing down on every facet of society, pulverizing livelihoods, économies, and hope itself under its unbearable weight.

The Anatomy of the Crush:

1. Currency Implosion: At the heart lies the Lebanese Lira's (LBP) catastrophic devaluation. Once pegged at 1,507 LBP to the US dollar for decades, it has plummeted to a fraction of its value on the parallel market (dépassant souvent 100,000 LBP/$1). This hyperinflationary spiral means salaries paid in Lira are rendered worthless almost overnight.
2. Banking Sector Paralysis: Banks imposed draconian capital controls early in the crisis (2019), effectively trapping depositors' savings in accounts denominated in "lollars" – US dollar balances inaccessible or withdrawable only at punitive exchange rates far below market value. Life savings vanished into thin air.
3. State Collapse & Subsidy Removal: The bankrupt state gradually withdrew subsidies on fuel, medicine, and wheat imports – essentials for survival. This triggered exponential price hikes for basic goods like bread and vital medications.
4. Soaring Poverty & Unemployment: Hyperinflation combined with economic contraction has plunged over 80% of the population into poverty according to UN estimates. Businesses shuttered en masse due to soaring costs and collapsed demand leading to rampant unemployment and underemployment.
5. Essential Service Failure: The state's inability to provide basic services intensified under financial strain:
Electricity: Daily power cuts lasting up to 23 hours became standard nationwide.
Healthcare: Hospitals struggled with shortages of medicines and equipment; patients faced impossible choices due to unaffordable care.
Eau & Sanitaire: Infrastructure decay threatened access to clean water.

The Human Toll: Life Under Pressure

The crushing impact is felt daily:
Families: Choosing between food and medicine becomes routine struggle.
Professionals: Doctors, engineers teachers flee abroad seeking survival ("brain drain"), crippling essential sectors.
Students: Education disrupted by lack of resources transport costs university fees priced in dollars becoming unaffordable dreams deferred or destroyed.

Mental Health Epid