10 Jul 2020 | 12:43 AM UTC
Lebanon: Demonstration scheduled in Beirut on July 10 /update 124
Anti-US demonstration scheduled in Beirut on July 10; avoid all demonstrations
Event
The US Embassy in Beirut announced on Thursday, July 9, that a protest is scheduled to take place in Beirut on Friday, July 10, at 16:00 (local time) in the vicinity of the US Embassy. The protest has been organized by members of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, the Lebanese Communist Party, and affiliated parties. As a preventative measure for employees, the Embassy is scheduled to close at 13:00 on Friday.
Clashes between protesters and security forces cannot be ruled out. A heightened security presence is to be anticipated in Beirut in the near and medium-term and transportation disruptions should be expected near the protest site.
Context
Recent protests have been denouncing ongoing economic hardship in Lebanon, the fall in the value of the Lebanese pound, and the rise in the cost of goods. The value of the Lebanese pound hit a record low on the black market on June 30, as the government raised the price of bread and announced that soldiers would stop receiving meat in their meals. Supermarkets have been pictured with empty shelves and retailers have closed stores following a rush to purchase goods, such as candles, flour, and yeast, amid rising prices.
Advice
Individuals in Lebanon are advised to monitor developments, avoid all protests as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.
