Enlarge image
Lebanese soldiers occupy gas stations across the country
Photo: AZIZ TAHER / REUTERS
In the midst of the devastating economic crisis in Lebanon, the country's army has taken positions at gas stations.
Photos posted by the army on online networks showed soldiers refueling vehicles on Saturday.
AFP correspondents reported long lines at gas stations in northern Beirut.
With their work at the gas stations, the army wants to counteract the hoarding of fuel and the sale at black market prices.
Stashed gasoline will be confiscated and distributed to the people free of charge, the army said.
The police also announced checks at petrol stations and the confiscation of hoarded petrol.
Lebanon is currently plagued by one of the worst economic crises in the world since 1850.
The country is struggling with gasoline and drug shortages, among other things.
Meanwhile, the head of the Lebanese central bank, Riad Salamé, said on the radio on Saturday that he would not deviate from his decision to cut fuel subsidies as long as no foreign currency was released. According to Salamé, there was a mandatory foreign exchange holding of $ 14 billion and an additional $ 20 billion in external holdings.
The central bank announced new regulations on limited loan issuance on Wednesday.
This aroused anger and panic in the population because they feared further price increases.
Because of the bottlenecks, the power supply in Lebanon is sometimes interrupted for 22 hours a day.
The value of the Lebanese pound has lost 90 percent against the dollar.
78 percent of the Lebanese population now live below the poverty line.
Help from abroad - under certain conditions
After the devastating explosion last year, foreign countries helped. At the beginning of August, the USA, France and Germany pledged millions in support at a donor conference. The government in Paris promised 100 million euros on Wednesday, the Federal Republic 40 million euros. But the helpers demand concessions from Lebanon: "A real and long-term improvement of the situation can only be brought about by the formation of a Lebanese government capable of action, which aims to implement the reforms demanded by the population," explained the Foreign Office.
US President Joe Biden also urged reform: "No outside support will ever be enough if the Lebanese leadership does not commit to doing the hard but necessary work to reform the economy and fight corruption," he said.
oka / AFP