Lebanon – Doctors in Lebanon protest outside Central Bank against withholding liquidity

Location: Beirut – Lebanon

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:02:31

Sound: Natural

Source: A24 Beirut

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Date: 26/05/2022

Storyline:

Doctors organized a sit-in outside the Central Bank of Lebanon, in response to the call of Lebanese Doctors Syndicates in Beirut and the North, and the Syndicate of Private Hospital Owners in Lebanon. Participants in the sit-in expressed rejection of the policies of Banque du Liban and other banks as they violate depositors rights, particularly doctors and workers in hospitals and the health sector. In a statement by A24, the head of the Syndicate of Private Hospital Owners Suleiman Haroun warned that hospitals are unable to secure the liquidity necessary to continue to work. The rights of workers in the health sector do not secure their livelihoods. Haroun stressed the rejection of what he described as the brutal monetary policy enforced by the state for maintaining the exchange rate of the lira. The policy has forced doctors to give up their work and duty in hospitals and take to the streets to demand their rights. The sit-in coincides with a two-day strike in response to the call of Doctors Syndicates in Beirut and the North and the Syndicate of Hospitals to be implemented by hospitals and the medical sector, except in cases of emergency.

Shotlist:

-Soundbite (Suleiman Haroun – Head of the Syndicate of Private Hospital Owners):

“Today we stand against the policy enforced by Banque du Liban and other banks of withholding liquidity from hospitals. This matter is obstructing work in hospitals, they can not continue to perform their duties under such circumstances.”

-Soundbite (Diyaa Thabit – Doctor):

“The medical sector is vital and Lebanon can not operate without it. However, we can not withdraw or transfer funds. We want banks to allow withdrawals or else we will leave the country. It is obvious the sector can not carry on under such circumstances.”