IMF says war taking heavy toll on Lebanon’s economy

Published
0

The International Monetary Fund says Israel’s war on Lebanon and wider regional tensions have taken a “heavy toll” on the country’s economy and living conditions, Al Jazeera reports.

Following a four-day mission to Beirut, the IMF says inflation remains in double digits and Lebanon’s current account deficit has widened, driven mainly by rising energy costs.

It also points to extensive damage to infrastructure and housing, large-scale internal displacement and a significant deterioration in living standards among displaced people.

Despite the impact of the conflict, the IMF says Lebanese authorities had maintained a measure of macroeconomic stability through cautious fiscal and monetary policies.

The IMF says Lebanon would need a credible medium-term fiscal framework to restore debt sustainability while creating room for spending on reconstruction, support for displaced people and social protection.

Opinion

Editorial

Fixing bond markets
Updated 01 Oct, 2026

Fixing bond markets

Pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, retail investors, and eventually, foreign investors must become bigger participants in the market.
Call centre rackets
01 Oct, 2026

Call centre rackets

A NUMBER of recent raids conducted by the authorities in different cities point to the growing threat fraudulent ...
Homeward bound
01 Oct, 2026

Homeward bound

FIVE months after Somali pirates captured an oil tanker carrying a 19-member multinational crew, Somali maritime...
Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...