Through Crisis and Courage: Lebanon's Struggle for Stability

After the 2019 uprising, Lebanon has faced multiple crises. Between the economic meltdown, the pandemic, the 2020 port explosion, and the ongoing war with Israel, the small country on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean has fought a thousand battles. Over the years, I have witnessed some of these moments on and off assignment.

Lebanon’s collapse was driven by a state-run Ponzi scheme, as elites enriched themselves through corruption and capital flight. The central bank masked insolvency with high-interest deposits, leaving citizens with devalued savings and poverty.
Lebanon’s 2021 fuel shortage saw massive lines and blackouts as supplies vanished. Amid economic collapse and corruption, fuel was hoarded and sold on black markets, leaving citizens desperate and paralyzed.
Sunset in Tripoli. Lebanon’s second-largest city faced deep poverty and neglect. Despite its historic and economic role, decades of marginalization, joblessness, and lack of investment turned it into one of the most impoverished areas in the country.
Posters of victims from the April 2022 migrant boat disaster are displayed in a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut. The boat, carrying Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian migrants, capsized off Tripoli, Lebanon, while attempting to reach Cyprus.
The August 4, 2020, Beirut port explosion devastated the city, killing over 200 people and injuring thousands. It destroyed neighborhoods, caused widespread damage, and deepened Lebanon’s ongoing economic and political crisis.
At 6:07 PM on August 4, 2020, the Beirut port explosion occurred. The shockwave was so powerful that it caused clocks to stop at the exact moment, symbolizing the sudden devastation and chaos that gripped the city.
The Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, was caused by the detonation of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, improperly stored for years in a warehouse. The highly unstable chemicals ignited, triggering a massive explosion that devastated the area.
After the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, international aid poured in, with France among the first to offer support. Humanitarian shipments, medical supplies, and rescue teams helped Lebanon in the aftermath of the devastating blast.
The Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, unleashed a pressure wave felt miles away. One of the largest non-nuclear blasts in history, its scale was comparable to the Hiroshima bombing, making it one of the most immense explosions ever recorded.
After the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, civil society stepped in to clean the city, clearing debris and providing aid, as the state struggled to respond. Volunteers and local groups played a critical role in the recovery effort.
The Beirut port explosion destroyed the headquarters of Electricité du Liban, worsening Lebanon's already dire electricity crisis. With the state power grid unreliable, many citizens rely on private generators to meet their energy needs.
Several years after the Beirut port explosion, the exact cause remains unclear. Despite extensive investigations, the origin of the fire that triggered the massive blast on August 4, 2020, has not been definitively determined.
The explosion created a powerful pressure wave that shattered windows, doors, and facades across the city. The immense force left buildings exposed and caused widespread structural damage.
Authorities were largely absent in recovery efforts.
Civil society took the lead in cleaning and rebuilding, as local volunteers and organizations stepped in where the state failed to act.
Many victims of the Beirut port explosion, injured in the August 4, 2020 blast, tragically died months later due to severe injuries. The explosion's impact extended far beyond the immediate destruction, claiming lives in the long recovery period.
On August 8, 2020, just days after the Beirut port explosion, thousands of people took to the streets in a massive demonstration. Protesters demanded accountability, calling out government corruption and the state's failure to protect citizens.
The Lebanese government deployed teargas and used heavy violence to disperse demonstrators. The crackdown intensified tensions, as people demanded justice for the Beirut port explosion.
Years after the Beirut port explosion, rebuilding efforts continue slowly. Amid the reconstruction, the destroyed grain silo still stands as a haunting symbol of the blast, its remains a stark reminder of the devastation that struck the city in 2020.
NGOs and civil society, including many young volunteers, worked tirelessly day and night to clean the city. They cleared debris, distributed aid, and provided essential services, leading the recovery when the state faltered.
Beirut’s port has been a vital hub throughout history, serving as a key trade and cultural gateway between the East and West. Its strategic location has shaped Lebanon’s economy, making it a symbol of connection to the wider world.
Amid Lebanon's ongoing economic crisis, streets in Beirut were often pitch black at night due to severe electricity shortages. The unreliable power supply left many areas in darkness, highlighting the deepening infrastructure and energy struggles.
Beginning in 2019, Lebanese civil society protested the Bisri Dam project, including through on-site camps. Initiated by the Lebanese government with World Bank funding, the project aims to address water shortages in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon.
Lebanese civil society protested the Bisri Dam project due to concerns over environmental damage, displacement of local communities, and the destruction of agricultural land, raising issues of transparency, governance, and sustainable development.
Lebanon faces severe water scarcity, with frequent shortages affecting daily life. The country’s outdated infrastructure, mismanagement, and environmental challenges have worsened the crisis, leaving many areas struggling to access clean water.
On August 4, 2021, thousands in Beirut marked the first anniversary of the port explosion with marches and vigils, demanding justice and accountability.
The winter of 2021/2022 hit Lebanon with heavy snow in the mountains, leaving many areas inaccessible. The state’s absence in providing aid or clearing roads left citizens stranded, highlighting the government's failure to respond to the crisis.
The harsh winter of 2021/2022 hit Lebanon’s refugee communities in the Bekaa Valley hard, with heavy snow and flooding overwhelming makeshift camps.
Many refugees were left without shelter or basic supplies, as state aid remained scarce and delayed.
Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees per capita, with over 1.6 million displaced individuals. Refugees face severe poverty, overcrowded camps, and limited access to healthcare and education, all worsened by Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis.
NGOs in Lebanon work to enroll refugee children in schools, but many face barriers. With limited resources, many children are forced into day jobs to help support their families, preventing many from receiving education.
Mount Lebanon, the mountain range that gave the country its name, runs parallel to the coast and is known for its snowy winters. Rich in cedar forests and history, it has shaped Lebanon’s climate, culture, and identity for centuries.
In Lebanon's May 15, 2022, parliamentary elections, traditional parties campaigned using sectarian appeals and established networks, while reformist candidates leveraged social media to challenge the status quo.
In October 2022, Lebanon saw its first cholera outbreak since 1993, starting in Akkar and northern regions. Contaminated water fueled the spread, leading to over 8,000 cases and 23 deaths by June 2023 amid failing infrastructure and poor sanitation.
In response to the 2022 cholera outbreak, Lebanon launched an oral droplet vaccination campaign, focusing on high-risk areas like the north. Despite limited resources, health workers acted quickly to contain the spread and raise public awareness.
Lebanon's health system has been severely impacted by the economic crisis, with underfunded hospitals, unpaid staff, and shortages of medicine and supplies. Many people struggle to access basic healthcare.
In the midst of Lebanon's worst economic crisis, people are turning back to the land. In Saadnayel, the Buzuruna Juzuruna association is reviving traditional agriculture to promote food sovereignty, biodiversity, and community resilience.
Founded in 2016 in the Beqaa Valley, Buzuruna Juzuruna cultivates farmers' seeds, fruits, vegetables, and grains - preserving ancient agricultural knowledge for and with the people of the Sham region.
Over 70% of the global seed diversity has disappeared in the last century. Buzuruna Juzuruna fights back by protecting local seeds-the key to food security, climate resilience, and our shared agricultural heritage.
More than a farm, Buzuruna Juzuruna is a cross-border movement that combines ecology, education, activism and solidarity - sowing the seeds for a sustainable, self-reliant future across the region.
In southern Lebanon, the ongoing conflict with Israel persists. UN peacekeepers, the Blue Helmets, have been stationed for decades to maintain stability and monitor ceasefires in the region.
The latest war began on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah fired rockets and artillery at Israeli positions in response to the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, causing massive displacement in southern Lebanon.
Nearly 4,000 people got displaced within one month.
Many were sheltering in classrooms of UN schools in the coastal city of Tyre/Sur, all of them with nothing but the bare minimum. Since 2023, Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 3,000 people in Lebanon.
Despite the November 2024 ceasefire, Israel has continued airstrikes in Lebanon. These actions have resulted in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, challenging the truce's stability.
The population is estimated to be around 5.2 million in 2025, excluding more than 1.5 million refugees. Instability continues to shift demographics, with high density in Beirut and Mount Lebanon straining resources and services.
Lebanon has weathered countless storms, its spirit unbroken. But today, regional shifts hint at deeper changes - not just for Lebanon, but for the entire region. Where the future feels less familiar and more uncertain, a new chapter is unfolding.
Next

The Children of Bergen-Belsen (Book)