Here they rob the bank - with their own savings

Since the financial crisis began in Lebanon around 2019, the Lebanese pound has lost approximately 95 percent of its value.

Due to currency restrictions, few have been able to withdraw their money from the banks.

Now the banks have also been completely closed for three days with reference to the security situation.

- People can withdraw a maximum of SEK 2,000-3,000 a month.

But it is a very expensive country to live in and that makes people so desperate, says SVT's foreign reporter Stina Blomgren.

The situation in Lebanon is acute, it is dangerously close to a completely uncontrollable situation in an already fragile country.

Robbers are celebrated

In several bank premises, customers, armed with real weapons or toy guns, have taken hostages to get hold of their own money.

The bank robbers have since received popular support.

- One of the robbers, Sali Hafiz, was hailed as a hero because she entered the bank with a toy gun and managed to withdraw 13,000 dollars for her sister's cancer treatment, says Stina Blomberg.

See images from one of the high-profile bank robberies and hear SVT's foreign reporter explain what is happening in the video above.