Gun sales rising, solar panel sales stalling – only in Lebanon…

Dear readers,

Sometimes I find myself somewhat startled when I scan the headlines hitting the front page of L’Orient Today’s homepage. From stories of desperation among families of migrants to elaborate drug smuggling plots to … « much ado about almost nothing » in Lebanon’s political scene. And so, once again this week, we have had a lot to write about. Here’s an overview of some of the key bits. Thank you once again for supporting our journalism. If you like what we’re doing, do subscribe or share some articles with your friends.

Gun sales booming in Lebanon – but why ?

« There’s hardly anyone left who doesn’t have at least one at home, » says Ali*, a firearms dealer in Beirut. Indeed, firearms sales to individuals have skyrocketed since the onset of the economic and financial crisis in Lebanon in 2019.

With the restrictions banks have imposed on depositors since the start of the crisis, many Lebanese have been keeping their savings at home, amid an overall rise in petty crime.

This situation has benefited the personal safety sector and the opaque, unregulated arms trade. Read more of Mohammed Yassine and Suzanne Baaklini’s report here.

What happened to Lebanon’s solar boom ?

While gun sales rise, L’Orient Today reporter, Sally Abou AlJoud has been exploring why Lebanon’s solar ‘boom’ is no longer booming. In the wake of Lebanon's energy crisis, there was a surge in people buying and installing solar power systems. Faced with chronic shortages from the public supplier Electricité du Liban (EDL), rampant private diesel generator rationing, and high fuel prices and electric bills, Lebanese citizens turned to solar as a flicker of hope amid the darkness. But why has, what once seemed like an unstoppable, decentralized solar revolution now hit a plateau ? Find out here.

The Nakba

As the war continues to rage in Gaza, this week marked 76 years since the Nakba. In the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp just south of Beirut, two elderly women stand next to each other, holding up pieces of tatreez embroidery that they’ve been spending hours stitching by hand. After Israel expelled tens of thousands of Palestinians from their homes during the Nakba in 1948 and the Naksa in 1967, wearing tatreez thobes became a way to preserve culture. Embroidering them also became a form of Palestinian resistance and patriotism. Learn more in this article by Malek Jadah and João Sousa.

The torturous wait for Lebanese migrants detained in Cyprus

One story that hit this week, is this report by Suzanne Baaklini about a group of Lebanese migrants, fleeing the country’s dire economic situation, who are currently detained in Cyprus. Thirty men left irregularly to the neighboring island from Bibnine, Akkar, and are currently incarcerated there. It’s often heard in Bibnine that the Lebanese are judged more harshly than Syrians or Palestinians in Cyprus. « The island has decided to take tougher measures against the Lebanese. If our sons had known, they would probably have refrained from taking the risk, » said Zaher al-Kassar.

Read more about their story here.

Lebanon’s parliamentary session this week: Much ado about almost nothing

« If it hadn’t been broadcast live, yesterday’s general debate in Parliament could have ended in an hour, instead of three and a half, » writes our politics reporter Yara Abi Akl. « But in front of the cameras, more than 30 MPs spoke from the rostrum of Parliament about Syrian refugees and the migrants’ issue, » she adds.

« The overwhelming majority of them agreed that Lebanon must unite its ranks to resolve the problem of what they called « illegal Syrian presence in Lebanon. » The most important thing to remember from the session is that there is now a sort of unified vision on this issue and the means to resolve it. How ? By applying the laws in force, » Yara reports. Yes, you read this right ! Read more here on Yara’s review of this rather … uneventful parliamentary session.

And finally – if you’re wondering where to go eat this weekend, don’t worry our esteemed food critic Cordon Courtine is here to help you ! This week he tells you what he liked, disliked and what outright annoyed him when he ate at the Chinese restaurant, Chop Suey, in Beirut. Read it here – and Sahtein !

I wish you a good weekend readers.

Very best,

Olivia Le Poidevin

Head of News