General strike and violent demonstrations in Beirut

- After two months of relatively calm the situation in Lebanon has seriously worsened during the last two days, and the whole thing is now very scary. Yesterday there was a general strike, and most public as well as private institutions have since kept their doors closed. The civilian part of the population is staying indoors. Demonstrations against the increasingly critical economy in the country have been followed by several violent actions, burning tires, blocked roads, shooting and bomb attacks, and all airtravel has been stopped. Different political fractions have again grabbed their arms, and the population is clearly affected by fear of what is waiting ahead. The food shop on the corner was this afternoon overfilled by people who like myself wanted to secure their private food and water storages at least for a few days. I have never before seen the shelves of elementary products like water, meat and bread this empty. Since February my colleague and I have had a relatively high level of freedom of movement, but now we are again under strict curfew, and again I can feel how the tense situation is affecting both body and soul. Now I know a little better what real stress is. It is not myself I worry the most about; I am being taken good care of by the Red Cross, and if the situation demands it I will be evacuated from the country. My whole family is also safely home in Norway. (Fortunately, because a few days ago they were here on a visit.) I’m more worried about my Lebanese friends that have no other possibility than hiding up in the mountains or gathering their loved ones in the basements of their homes in case the worst possible scenario would become a reality. I do however truly hope that we very soon can meet on the streets again, with our shoulders down and carrying only good news, and that the worst thinkable just remains in my imagination. Inch allah.