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Protesters gather near a roadblock in Beirut, Lebanon, during a protest against power cuts. Last year, power cut protesters attempted to storm the Ministry of Energy. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AOFU4IF4VBCKAKKJJ2Z2VCH67Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f3f0928c65bdb25bc9e94412fdc15fc9b115bce273f6b81b47db9fc69ff7510&width=400&height=225)
Protesters block a road with burning tyres, during a demonstration against power cuts in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PWUAEE7IZMCHUNK7273QZIE66E.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc0f344dd5478b2f4f363ea6d4a0b8f34901ffa5fa5e1d59a890d1332a4cc223&width=400&height=225)
A demonstrator stands silhouetted between burning tyres, during a protest against power cuts in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/27MITIQRDMWTRWNZNOLT736QVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f5e58bff19242cc6ab7ef556d27c3e4c1a6fc336dfd0e896202650523b9a70ef&width=400&height=225)
A protester leaps over burning tyres, during a protest against power cuts in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6HL332AB5UCLVLVU6IZG2QM4VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=07a9324f386443b969321c42bf7df6112c3b3eaea8aaf82ec0061560b6bb3b19&width=400&height=225)
A demonstrator against power cuts stands in front burning tyres in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
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It is estimated that half of Lebanon's population of seven million people live below the poverty line. EPA
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The government has imposed a tough Covid-19 lockdown, but without robust support programmes, adding to public anger. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EIHWWJQ3JAUEQE5JQIS37EA5TI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b6ce47a17df4cc3149f1f6a7e3192f6629665910efca6da1c96c97c1127e217&width=400&height=225)
Protesters gather near a roadblock in Beirut, Lebanon, during a protest against power cuts. Last year, power cut protesters attempted to storm the Ministry of Energy. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AOFU4IF4VBCKAKKJJ2Z2VCH67Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f3f0928c65bdb25bc9e94412fdc15fc9b115bce273f6b81b47db9fc69ff7510&width=400&height=225)
Protesters block a road with burning tyres, during a demonstration against power cuts in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PWUAEE7IZMCHUNK7273QZIE66E.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc0f344dd5478b2f4f363ea6d4a0b8f34901ffa5fa5e1d59a890d1332a4cc223&width=400&height=225)
A demonstrator stands silhouetted between burning tyres, during a protest against power cuts in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/27MITIQRDMWTRWNZNOLT736QVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f5e58bff19242cc6ab7ef556d27c3e4c1a6fc336dfd0e896202650523b9a70ef&width=400&height=225)
A protester leaps over burning tyres, during a protest against power cuts in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6HL332AB5UCLVLVU6IZG2QM4VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=07a9324f386443b969321c42bf7df6112c3b3eaea8aaf82ec0061560b6bb3b19&width=400&height=225)
A demonstrator against power cuts stands in front burning tyres in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D225PZFV7SVQO5GROM64FXPXNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=4846250b620ebcda681054c3a51cd7496de5479efc8ee91c70af2c6d23297266&width=400&height=225)
It is estimated that half of Lebanon's population of seven million people live below the poverty line. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H77SUBFSUJMGS7PXYEZA7NFRUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ef719fb4c79092361b53c5690000e1d376e8deb3f13b5f7f2ceff525b84e1bef&width=400&height=225)
The government has imposed a tough Covid-19 lockdown, but without robust support programmes, adding to public anger. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EIHWWJQ3JAUEQE5JQIS37EA5TI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b6ce47a17df4cc3149f1f6a7e3192f6629665910efca6da1c96c97c1127e217&width=400&height=225)
Protesters gather near a roadblock in Beirut, Lebanon, during a protest against power cuts. Last year, power cut protesters attempted to storm the Ministry of Energy. EPA
Lebanon’s electricity sector teeters on the brink of collapse
Power cuts increase as country’s financial crisis hits fuel imports and payments to power plants
![Sunniva Rose](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fd93fbde0-cf2f-4d2e-acc7-b14e52792d7e.png?smart=true&auth=57edc0da25baac19cd43f67c9290ec8b1bbaefeb3d446f19573f3fc84057b92e&width=70&height=70)
Sunniva Rose
02 March, 2021
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