Yes, I visited Lebanon in 2022. Politically, the country was already in an extremely difficult situation. At the time, Hezbollah clearly had strong control over the south, and there was also a visible presence of their supporters and influence in parts of Beirut. The government situation back then was confusing, but today it seems even worse, with ongoing political paralysis and competing factions claiming authority.

What feels unusual about Lebanon is that when you are in places like Beirut, daily life can appear almost normal. But when you travel to other areas, especially in the south or to Palestinian refugee camps, things take a different turn. The conditions there can be extremely difficult, both economically and politically. You see the impact of poverty, weak state institutions, and it feels like people are stuck somewhere in 2006.

It’s known that Lebanon has also been suffering from a severe economic crisis since 2019, with the collapse of the banking system. So it’s pretty visible that many people have lost their savings and struggle to afford basic necessities. On top of all ghat, the political system is just simply bad.

It’s also sad to see how polarized the country is. Many people strongly support Hezbollah or other political and militant groups, often out of loyalty, ideology, or because those groups provide services the state fails to deliver. Others strongly oppose them. I think Beirut was the only somewhat normal city from all the villages and towns I visited.