Two banks in Lebanon have been held up by prospects making an attempt to attract out their very own cash which has been frozen because the nation suffers an financial meltdown.
Most have been locked out of overseas forex belongings for the final two years, with banks solely permitting small withdrawals which frequently do not cowl the necessities.
In two separate incidents on Wednesday, banks had been held up by prospects making an attempt to entry their financial savings.
During one stick-up, a lady and a few associates took what she mentioned was a toy gun right into a department of BLOM financial institution in Beirut and left with greater than $13,000 in money from her account.
The lady, Sali Hafiz, mentioned she stormed the financial institution to get cash for her sister’s most cancers remedy.
BLOM financial institution mentioned prospects had been threatened throughout the raid, with the department supervisor and treasurer compelled to carry cash from a secure.
Later, an armed man went right into a Bankmed department within the mountain metropolis of Aley to get a few of his trapped financial savings again.
He handed himself in shortly after.
It comes a month after a person held up a financial institution in Beirut to withdraw funds to deal with his sick father.
He was arrested however later launched after the financial institution dropped fees.
‘I’ve nothing extra to lose’
Before going into hiding, Ms Hafiz informed native media that she had no different alternative however to carry up the BLOM financial institution.
She mentioned: “I have nothing more to lose, I got to the end of the road.
“I acquired to some extent the place I used to be going to promote my kidney in order that my sister may obtain remedy.”
Ms Hafiz said she had attempted to draw money two days earlier but was unable to do so.
Her mother told local TV: “All we now have is that this cash within the financial institution. My daughter was compelled to take this cash – it is her proper, it is in her account – to deal with her sister.”
Banks are supposed to make exceptions for customers attempting to pay for things like hospital care, but many say this does not happen.
Senior bankers have warned that hold-ups may increase.
One told Reuters: “I feel that is an invite for different individuals to do the identical. As lengthy as individuals get away with it, they may proceed. What a failed state.”
Source: information.sky.com”