The socio-economic crisis is ravaging the Lebanese people across various regions, revealing new daily scenes, whether shocking ones showing the extent of despair that has forced some poor individuals to search for food in garbage containers to survive, or the rising prices that have led many to replace original goods with substitutes, from medicines to food items.
The latest striking scene in Sidon is a sign that reads "We apologize, bread without a bag," indicating that some shops have begun selling loaves of bread without plastic bags or asking customers to pay for them, which ranges between 1,000 to 2,000 Lebanese pounds, depending on the dollar's exchange rate in the black market. This follows from bakeries selling bundles of bread only in transparent plastic bags, without thick and large outer bags that hold more than one bundle for easier transportation to the car or home.
Habib Al-Aqad told "Nidaa Al-Watan": "I was surprised after I bought a bundle of bread from the neighborhood shop when the owner asked me to pay for the plastic bag or receive the loaves without it." He expressed his shock initially but then regained his focus and said, "Is this where we've reached? I bought the bundle of bread for 21,000 Lebanese pounds after paying 1,000 Lebanese pounds for the bag."
Nabil Ma'tuq openly stated that not long ago, with the rise in the dollar's exchange rate, he noticed that plastic bags in some stores and vegetable vendors, which are of different shapes and of inferior quality compared to before, have become very transparent, tear easily, and are sometimes difficult to open and appear mismatched, saying: "We have experienced many crises in the past, but we have never reached this level of interaction with each other."
The people of Sidon have lost hope for a quick recovery from the crisis, as political disputes continue to prevent consensus on solutions. However, the election of a new president still presents a glimmer of hope to stop the collapse and initiate reform and state reconstruction, according to Rafiq Samhoun, who told "Nidaa Al-Watan." He added: "I followed the election session, which is a step in the right direction to hold everyone accountable and warn of the dangers of presidential vacancy, which will exacerbate the crisis and its negative consequences on the people, especially the poor, the dignified, and the unemployed."
In light of these hopes, city representatives Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Bizri and Dr. Osama Saad attended the election session. Saad affirmed, "We need additional consultations to reach a president who represents the October 17 revolution; our option was the blank paper," while Al-Bizri considered the call for the session important as it falls within constitutional frameworks. He noted that not electing a president would open the doors for more consultations, and they have not yet finalized their voting choice for any candidate, adding: "As a bloc in Sidon, we continuously meet for consultations, and we communicate with the reformists and independents, and we are trying to reach a common name with reformists and independents."
