A Syrian man in his 50s set himself on fire in east Lebanon Sunday and was sent to hospital with third-degree burns, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The NNA reported that deteriorating living conditions led to the incident, which occurred in the Bekaa Valley region.
The 52-year-old used gasoline to light the fire.
The man is reportedly in critical condition and has been transferred to the Bekaa Hospital.
COVID-19 lockdown measures have exacerbated the burden on Lebanon’s population, which has been struggling with a flagging economy for months. The pandemic has forced citizens to stay at home and has shut down businesses across the country to curb the spread of the outbreak. Many as a result are not receiving their salaries or are unemployed.
On Thursday, a Lebanese man in Sidon also attempted to set himself on fire after receiving a fine he could not afford to pay for violating general mobilization procedures by opening his shop. The police had demanded the closure of his business in accordance with intensified lockdown procedures to curb the outbreak of coronavirus.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
