Beirut (AFP)

When Ayla arrived at a cafe on the trendy Mar Mikhael street in Beirut with her two children, it wasn't to offer them a drink or dessert but to put them to bed in an air-conditioned space.

"For two days, we have not had a single minute of power at home. The children can no longer sleep," she laments, while temperatures often exceed 35 ° in the capital in this month August.

Next to her, her eight-year-old daughter is sleeping soundly, curled up on a small sofa, while her five-year-old son is lying on her lap.

In a collapsing Lebanon, severe fuel shortages have recently worsened, causing panic, anger and chaos.

Power outages now peak at more than 23 hours a day, and in the absence of fuel, the district generators, which usually take over, also ration homes, shops, supermarkets and institutions.

“Here my kids can at least gain a few hours of sleep,” says Ayla.

Around midnight, however, the young mother was forced to leave the place because the cafe closed.

"What we are going through is amazing (...) It's hell on earth," she says.

"We have nothing left (...) We cannot even sleep anymore".

- Series closures -

Some cafes offer air conditioning but also a stable internet connection, the network being disrupted by electricity shortages.

The crisis, which has been going on for months, took a new turn after the Central Bank announced on August 11 that it would lift fuel subsidies, exacerbating shortages and causing a mad rush on gas stations as well as major disruptions or closures in all sectors.

Two women read a poster informing customers of reduced opening hours on the window of a cafe in Beirut on August 20, 2021 in Lebanon ANWAR AMRO AFP

This new ordeal comes on top of a series of dramatic episodes experienced by the Lebanese for almost two years, such as the implementation of strict banking restrictions which prevent the Lebanese from having free access to their money.

In the Gemmayzé district, the Paul bakery had to reduce its opening hours, due to the extremely high price of fuel oil still available.

"We buy fuel oil on the black market at 500,000 pounds (333 dollars at the official rate) for 20 liters to run our generator", more than five times the old subsidized price, tells AFP the head of the room Elie Zwein.

“We keep the refrigerators on overnight, but turn off all other equipment,” he adds.

The group also had to close three of its eight brands operating in Lebanon.

Other cafes and restaurants across the country have also closed because they cannot keep their food fresh.

In a hair salon in Hamra neighborhood, Ahmad, 20, trims a client's beard by the light of his cell phone.

A hairdresser uses the light from his mobile phone to illuminate his salon on August 20, 2021 in Beirut, Lebanon ANWAR AMRO AFP

"We work in conditions which have deteriorated a lot," laments the young barber.

Other hairdressers decided to cut their hair on the sidewalk for light.

For lack of gasoline, in some companies, employees sleep on site or no longer go to the office, while taxis are increasingly scarce or offer very expensive trips.

- "Humiliating" -

To avoid the endless hours of queuing to fill up with gasoline, Abou Karim, a taxi driver, left his vehicle at night in front of a gas station, hoping to be able to refuel the next day.

But he will have nothing.

"Is there anything more humiliating than that?", Loses this man whose income has melted in a few days.

"During that time, the leaders lack nothing, neither electricity, nor gasoline", loses Abou Karim, echoing many Lebanese who shout at the leaders of all stripes.

Several vital sectors, such as hospitals, have sounded the alarm bells in recent days, threatening to close their doors for lack of power and fuel.

The crisis the country is going through, exacerbated by the inaction of the leaders, is one of the worst in the world since 1850, according to the World Bank.

Ahmad el-Malla keeps his bar open despite the power cuts, in the Gemmayze district, in Beirut, on August 20, 2021 ANWAR AMRO AFP

About 80% of the population today lives below the poverty line, according to the UN.

Ahmad el-Malla, 30, decided to keep his bar open in Gemmayzé, relying on the uninterruptible power system and bags of ice cubes to keep his bottles cool.

"I have no choice, I cannot close (...) If I do not work, I am starving," he says.

© 2021 AFP