Reportage
Robberies in Lebanon: banks reopened after ten days of closure
Audio 01:09
A bank in Beirut watched by a security guard on September 26, 2022 (illustration image).
AP - Bilal Hussein
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The decision to close the banks was taken following a series of seven robberies that have nothing to do with organized crime.
Customers exasperated by three years of drastic banking restrictions had resorted to force to recover their own savings.
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With our correspondent in Beirut,
Sophie Guignon
In Beirut, in the shopping district of Hamra Street, around 20 customers queue to access their bank under the watchful eye of two police officers and private security guards.
Gradually, they are allowed to cross the iron wall that surrounds the establishment.
"
I've been waiting an hour to withdraw $50
," complained a customer.
"
There, normally, I should be at university, but I'm waiting to withdraw money
," laments Ahmad Zaeiter, a student.
Further on, Aïda Khoury, a retired teacher, becomes exasperated.
The dispenser is empty.
“
Today, I have to beg for the money for my 42-year career.
I had put my savings in the bank and the money disappeared
,” she laments.
Only a handful of the 1,000 bank branches in Lebanon reopened on Monday.
Ali Ammar, the vice-president of the union of employees in the sector, points to the lack of means.
“
To fully reopen the banks, we have to be safe.
The help of the security forces has been requested and they are present as much as possible despite the lack of manpower.
If we cannot guarantee the safety of employees
, branch managers and customers, we will be forced to close again
,” he warns.
Very rebounded, the depositors' associations have promised new actions to recover the money of Lebanese savers, blocked by the banks for three years.
The banks will be robbed tomorrow or the day after, that's for sure.
Depositors have health issues, students are back to school, families have even more expenses this month.
So, it is to be expected that every depositor will want to enter their bank to claim their money.
That's why the banks are in danger.
The banks have been blocking our money for three years.
Samia Sabaii, member of the association "Cri des Dépositors"
Oriane Verdier
►Also read: Bank robberies in Lebanon: faced with the despair of savers, the phenomenon is gaining momentum
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