In Lebanon, retirees are the most affected by the devastating economic crisis that the country has been going through for four years. Their pensions were swallowed up by the collapse of the banking system. Draconian restrictions have been put in place by the banks. Result: the oldest are left without resources. While Lebanon has 11% of people over 64, there are tens of thousands of retirees who are forced to return to work despite advanced age or depend on charity.
From our correspondent in Beirut,
In Lebanon, the oldest are the left behind of the crisis. In Beirut, in the Achrafiyeh district, Hekmat Skaff continues to run his grocery store despite his 80s. Like 80% of Lebanese, he did not contribute to retirement. So he had saved for his old age. But his savings are blocked by his bank: “ We got tired for 60 years until today. Everything was swallowed by the bank. I had a lot of money in the bank, but it all disappeared. I would have liked to travel, to discover the world. he exasperates. Instead, Hekmat Skaff will be forced to run his store until the end of his life.
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All the young people leave
Those who cannot work rely on charity, like 78-year-old Bernadette Waked. Former executive secretary, the septuagenarian was entitled to a pension which lost 95% of its value because of the devaluation: “ I had a job where I went every day, I had an income. Today, I don’t touch anything. I have three years of unpaid rent. Maybe I’ll end up on the street. I had a very strong depression. And this depression had consequences on my health. We are abandoned, no one is interested in us except the NGOs. »
That day, she was visited by a team from the Lebanese association Amel, who had come to give her hot meals and check on her state of health. Roy Melhem, geriatrics doctor of the association, recounts the inevitable exodus that the country has been experiencing since the crisis: ” In our society, there are no more jobs for young people. All the young people leave. When we go from house to house, we only see old people, alone. GOOD sure, their families talk with them, but they cannot see them or take them to the doctor. We see a lot of people in this situation. They are suffering a lot and the cases are increasing in a frightening way. »
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” The state has no consideration for us »
Public service retirees are no exception. General Georges Nader, served 35 years in the Lebanese army, as a general, he is now retired: ” Before the crisis, my salary was $4,500. Today it’s $60. My children work. They are the ones who help me to live. Imagine, I am a brigadier general. »
Since the crisis, the sexagenarian is of all the demonstrations to ask for an increase in the pensions of the soldiers. ” The state has no consideration for us. Have you ever seen generals protesting in the streets? ? Nowhere except Lebanon ! According to the United Nations, 80% of Lebanese retirees need the help of their relatives or NGOs to survive the crisis.
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