Thread by @mahamyahya

Situation in #Tripoli #Lebanon deteriorating quickly. Protests that began 2 days ago against lockdown measures and 24 hour curfews to curb the spread of #coronavirus have disintegrated into gun fights. #LebanonProtests

For many Tripolitanians & other #Lebanese staying at home simply means no food at the table. More than 50% of #Lebanese are below the poverty line now. #Tripoli has one of the highest percentage of urban poverty in #lebanon

Even though #Lebanese politicians & decision makers have been warning about need for harsh lockdown measure, they have done little to put in place the proper social safety net measures needed to make sure people can survive. What is now in place is simply too little & quite late

Reports having been coming in of attempts to break into the central bank in #Tripoli as well as the municipal Serrail. Live ammunition is being used along with rubber bullets. #Lebanon

All of this while #Lebanon ‘s political elite refuse to form a new government or put in place economic rescue measures to address an increasing exponential collapse/ #criminal does not even begin to describe a behavior that is willingly driving #Lebanon into the abyss

Demonstrators now in downtown #Beirut in solidarity with #Tripoli protests #Lebanon #LebanonProtests

Anger on the streets of #Tripoli #Lebanon is palpable Last night the municipal building set on fire. Today the army is getting ready to send in special units city politicians calling for security forces to take control. This will be a difficult night #لبنان_ينتفض #LebanonProtests

Circulating on social media- #LebaneseArmy sending special forces into #Tripoli #Lebanon #لبنان_ليس_بخير #لبنان_ينتفض