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From Our Own Correspondent: Lebanon’s hunger revolution

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Lebanon’s Hunger Revolution

09/05/2020 GMT

Lebanon’s hunger revolution

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Lebanon’s hunger revolution

In Lebanon, extreme poverty has reignited protests despite the lockdown

Lebanon’s devastating economic collapse has driven protestors back to the streets, flouting restrictions and in Guangzhou, Africans are being scapegoated for Coronavirus' spread.

The effect of the lockdown on the Lebanese population has been dramatic. The economy was already on its knees through mismanagement and corruption and now it has all but collapsed. The exchange rate of the Lebanese lira has plummeted, slashing people’s wages and savings by more than half. Seventy five per cent of the population are now in need of aid and every other person is living below the poverty line. People are once again taking to the streets. Abbie Cheeseman reports on what has become known as the hunger revolution.

Guangzhou in southern China is home to a large community from sub-Saharan Africa. People come for the business opportunities, the trading to be done, or to study. The locals called the part of the city where Africans did business, lived and socialised, Little Africa, and the Chinese government had been welcoming up to now. But the coronavirus has exposed prejudice, as Danny Vincent heard.

Nigeria’s mega-churches, once host to vast numbers of worshippers, were told to close their doors to stop the spread of Coronavirus.  Some have adapted to the changes quickly, streaming prayer services online, making donations to the government and stricken worshippers - as well as asking for them. But not all their followers are complying with social distancing measures, drawing the ire of the Nigerian authorities, as Nduka Orijinmo found.

On the West Coast of Ireland, in County Clare, stand the imposing Cliffs of Moher. They are situated on the Wild Atlantic Way – a 2,500 kilometre route that follows the rugged Irish coastline from County Donegal in the north to County Cork in the south. The striated cliffs soar 214 metres high. And the place is popular. But right now, the well-trodden coastal path is almost deserted, giving nature a chance to reclaim it. Trish Flanagan took a wander.

(Image: Anti-government protesters attend a protest against the collapsing Lebanese lira currency and the price hikes of goods in Beirut Credit: EPA/Nabil Mounzer)

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