Banks in crisis-hit Lebanon partially reopened on Monday following closure amid a wave of heists.
The heists saw assailants storming at least seven bank branches earlier this month, demanding to withdraw their trapped savings.
The country’s economy has spiralled, with about three-quarters of the population plunged into poverty. The Lebanese pound has lost over 90% of its value against the dollar.
The frustrations boiled over this month, with angry and desperate depositors – including one armed with a hunting rifle – started holding up the banks.
One of them broke into a Beirut bank branch with a fake pistol and retrieved some $13,000 in her savings to cover her sister’s cancer treatment.
However, only a handful of bank branches opened on Monday – accepting only customers with prior appointments for corporate transactions.
The partial reopening was to continue indefinitely until banks can secure the safety of their employees.
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