STORY: Economic crisis weighs heavily on Lebanese traditions in Eid al-Adha
DATELINE: June 29, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:17
LOCATION: Beirut
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of street views in Beirut
2. various of people buying sweets in shop
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AHMED MIDIKSI, Worker at Safsouf sweets shop in Beirut
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MAHA OUEINI, Beirut resident
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): AKRAM EL BUNNI, Sheep seller in Lebanon
6. various of sheep

STORYLINE:

Eid al-Adha has a different taste in Lebanon this year amid the unprecedented financial crisis prevailing in the country.

Ever since the beginning of the crisis in 2019, citizens have reduced their Eid spending as the value of their wages deteriorated following the collapse of the local currency.

Sweets shops are among the businesses that felt the pinch of the crisis.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AHMED MIDIKSI, Worker at Safsouf sweets shop in Beirut
"There is a drop in demand by 80 percent. I won't say by 90 percent or 100 percent, there is a drop of 80 percent.
Sweets have become a luxury and not a priority like bread or the main meal which are daily necessities. These are luxury products but despite all this, we are doing ok."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MAHA OUEINI, Beirut resident
"In the past, we used to buy in quantities a variety of sweets with pistachios, walnuts, and dates. Now we find it sufficient to buy a simple tray with one kilo of Ma'amoul in small pieces which we can serve during Eid."

Lebanon's financial crisis weighed heavily on all aspects of Eid including the sacrifice, which used to constitute a very important yearly tradition as Muslims around the world slaughter an animal, mainly a sheep, and distribute at least one-third of the meat to people who are poor or in vulnerable situations.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): AKRAM EL BUNNI, Sheep seller in Lebanon
"The increase in prices, especially food prices and animal prices plays a big role. Those who sacrificed 20 sheep now buy only 10 sheep, and those who used to sacrifice 15 sheep only buy seven today."

Lebanon has been facing an unprecedented financial crisis plunging over 80 percent of the population into poverty.

The crisis caused a devaluation of people's wages while forcing banks to place restrictions on deposit withdrawals.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut.
(XHTV)