Lebanese Prisons on the Brink of Famine

Entrance of Roumieh Prison (AFP)
Entrance of Roumieh Prison (AFP)
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Lebanese Prisons on the Brink of Famine

Entrance of Roumieh Prison (AFP)
Entrance of Roumieh Prison (AFP)

Lebanon's economic crisis has recently affected prisons where detainees and their families warn of a possible "famine" if the quantities of the food they receive continue to decline.

The prisoners of Block B in Roumieh Central Prison issued a statement regarding their condition, saying they are suffering from the high prices at the prison’s store, and the state’s financial crisis that has become unable to secure their food.

The statement, circulated by the Lebanese Observatory for Prisoners' Rights, indicated that quantities have been reduced to quarter and hospitals are refusing to receive sick inmates after the government failed to pay their dues.

On Tuesday, the Association of Committees for the Families of Detainees in Lebanese Prisons organized a sit-in in front of Roumieh Prison demanding the approval of general amnesty draft law as soon as possible.

Interior Minister Mohamed Fahmy indicated that the difficult economic situation and the decline in the exchange rate have affected all segments of society including the prisoners and their families.

Fahmy explained that the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces (ISF) allocates the prisons’ foodstuffs provisions in the budget. However, due to the soaring prices of materials, commodities, meat, and poultry, traders can no longer deliver the same quantities.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the ministries of economy and finance have been contacted to secure subsidized foodstuffs for kitchens in large prisons as well as shops to sell them to prisoners at subsidized prices.

Fahmy indicated that meat and poultry are supplied once every ten days due to the high costs, pointing out that with regard to the health situation, the government agreed with the hospitals to receive prisoners and secure their treatment.

“We are facing some difficulties in securing cash for the differences in securing medical supplies… It is being covered by several institutions such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.”

Lebanon has 25 prisons with 6,989 detainees, 5,391 of whom are in Roumieh Central Prison and other prisons, while the remaining 1,598 are in the justice palaces and ISF detention centers, according to recent figures.

A prisoner in Roumieh told Asharq Al-Awsat that they had submitted an official request to the prison administration last Monday to allow their families to bring them food, similar to other prisons.

He explained that Roumieh security forces can search the meals, as they do in other prisons, to ensure no contrabands enter the facility.

The prisoner, who refused to be identified, explains that the amount of served food dropped to half, indicating that they get two meals, namely breakfast and lunch.

“The quality was already bad and now it is worse ... We survive mainly on eating bulgur and drinking water.”

He affirmed that the health situation has become so difficult that the prisoner is required to secure his medicines and even painkillers, especially that hospitals are no longer receiving prison patients.

The inmate asserted that they do not aim to press for a general amnesty, because they know this is a political issue, however, the demands in reducing the prices of goods in the store and launching a humanitarian campaign requires an administrative decision that can be taken quickly.

Mohammed Sablouh, a lawyer and prison committee rapporteur at Tripoli’s Bar Association, pointed out that Roumieh prisoners already suffer from “high prices” in the store, even before the economic and financial crisis.

Sablouh explained that most of the inmates are satisfied with the food served in the prison because of their weak financial capabilities.

“The quantity of food provided by the prison kitchen has decreased dramatically, and meat has disappeared.”

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Sablouh explained that the Ministry of Interior informed him that coordination is underway with the Ministry of Economy to secure subsidized goods.

He warned that if this situation persists, especially in Roumieh, the prisons are on the brink of famine.



Lebanon Braces for Repercussions of Iran-Israel Conflict

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)
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Lebanon Braces for Repercussions of Iran-Israel Conflict

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)

Lebanon remained on high political alert amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, as officials worked to assess and contain the potential repercussions of the conflict on the country’s fragile stability.

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian emphasized the importance of Lebanon distancing itself from the conflict.

President Joseph Aoun is closely monitoring the unfolding situation and received briefings on the latest developments and the regional and international diplomatic efforts underway to defuse it.

Aoun is in continuous contact with security leaders, in line with the outcomes of a national security meeting held at the Baabda Palace on Saturday, said a statement from the Lebanese presidency.

The president also oversaw efforts to facilitate the return of Lebanese nationals stranded abroad after airlines canceled flights to Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport and neighboring countries closed their airspace due to the rising regional tensions.

Saudi Ambassador Bukhari met with Grand Mufti Derian at Dar al-Fatwa to extend Eid al-Adha greetings and congratulate him on performing the Hajj upon invitation from the Saudi royal protocol.

The meeting also served as an opportunity to discuss Lebanese and regional affairs.

According to a statement from Dar al-Fatwa’s media office, the officials stressed the need for Lebanon to disassociate itself from the Iran-Israel conflict.

They underscored the urgent need for intensified Arab and international diplomatic efforts to curb the language of war and restore rational dialogue. They warned of the dangerous political, economic, and environmental consequences the continued fighting could have on the region.

Despite ongoing Israeli attacks in parts of Lebanon and repeated violations of UN Resolution 1701, the country, they said, must pursue security, peace, and stability.