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Lebanon Power Crisis Threatens Communications, Health Sector

A woman walks outside a building of a Lebanon's electricity company in Beirut, Lebanon May 20, 2020. (Reuters)
A woman walks outside a building of a Lebanon's electricity company in Beirut, Lebanon May 20, 2020. (Reuters)
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Lebanon Power Crisis Threatens Communications, Health Sector

A woman walks outside a building of a Lebanon's electricity company in Beirut, Lebanon May 20, 2020. (Reuters)
A woman walks outside a building of a Lebanon's electricity company in Beirut, Lebanon May 20, 2020. (Reuters)

For the third week in a row, Lebanon has been going through a severe power crisis threatening the continuity of vital sectors in the country, including telecommunications and health.

Lack of diesel has forced owners of private electric generators to implement power rationing in many areas, leaving many basic services at risk of interruption.

Minister of Energy and Water Raymond Ghajar announced that the situation would improve as of Tuesday, noting that two ships would arrive this week and a third one next week to supply fuel to power stations.

On Monday, the Ogero communications company said that its services “may witness interruptions” in some areas if the owners of private generators stopped providing some generators and communication rooms with power.

Abdo Saadeh, the head of private generators’ owners, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the situation could get worse if the state did not provide diesel.

“The owners of generators are buying diesel from the black market at a very high price (LBP 27,000 the tank instead of LBP 14,000) and today they are no longer able to provide it even from this market,” he said.

With the increase in the power rationing hours, the Rafik Hariri Public Hospital announced that it had to adopt procedures and measures that contribute to rationalizing electricity consumption by 25 percent, by turning off the air conditioners in doctors’ offices, administrative rooms and in the corridors.

“These measures serve in the short term, but if the crisis persists, the hospital will face a real problem,” hospital sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

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UN Envoy: What We See in Syria is a Mark of Collective Failure

Resolution 2254 was adopted by the Security Council on 18 December 2015 (UN archive)
Resolution 2254 was adopted by the Security Council on 18 December 2015 (UN archive)
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UN Envoy: What We See in Syria is a Mark of Collective Failure

Resolution 2254 was adopted by the Security Council on 18 December 2015 (UN archive)
Resolution 2254 was adopted by the Security Council on 18 December 2015 (UN archive)

United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on Sunday he is closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Syria, where a dramatic shift in frontlines was seen in recent days.
“What we see in Syria today is a mark of a collective failure to bring about what has plainly been required now for many years – a genuine political process to implement Security Council resolution 2254,” the envoy said in a statement.
Pedersen noted that in Syria, a country torn by nearly 14 years of war and conflict, the latest developments pose severe risks to civilians and have serious implications for regional and international peace and security.
As an immediate priority, he said, “I strongly emphasize the urgent need for all to uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
“This is a clear message to all parties engaged in hostilities of any kind. I will continue to push for civilian protection and deescalation,” the envoy added.
Pedersen then recalled the times he repeatedly warned of the risks of escalation in Syria, of the dangers of mere conflict management rather than conflict resolution, and the reality that no Syrian party or existing grouping of actors can resolve the Syrian conflict via military means.
“I call for urgent and serious political engagement – among Syrian and international stakeholders - to spare bloodshed and focus on a political solution in accordance with Security Council resolution 2254,” he said.
The envoy then affirmed his will to continue to engage all parties and stand ready to use my good offices to convene international and Syria stakeholders in new and comprehensive peace talks on Syria.
Presented by the US, Resolution 2254 was adopted by the Security Council on 18 December 2015.
It emphasizes the need for all parties in Syria to take confidence building measures to contribute to the viability of a political process and a lasting ceasefire, and calls on all states to use their influence with the Syrian government and the opposition to advance the peace process, confidence building measures and steps towards a ceasefire.
The resolution also expresses support for a Syrian-led political process that is facilitated by the UN and, within a target of six months, establishes credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance and sets a schedule and process for drafting a new constitution.
Since the adoption of the resolution, Geneva has hosted several meetings of the parties involved in the conflict in Syria. However, those parties failed to reach an agreement, especially after Moscow established in 2017 the Astana dialogue followed in 2018 by the Sochi process.
Resolution 2254 calls on the release of any arbitrarily detained persons, particularly women and children, and on the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) states to use their influence immediately to these ends.
It demands that all parties immediately cease any attacks against civilians and civilian objects as such, including attacks against medical facilities and personnel, and any indiscriminate use of weapons, including through shelling and aerial bombardment.