Lebanon is a small Middle Eastern country located on the Mediterranean Sea, with a population of around 6.2 million people. The main ethnic group is Arab, making up around 95% of the population. Other ethnic groups include Armenians, Kurds and Circassians. The majority of Lebanese are Muslim, with other religions such as Christianity and Judaism making up much of the remaining population. Additionally, there is also a small Druze minority living in Lebanon as well. The literacy rate in Lebanon is close to 94%, and the average life expectancy is 78 years. Check hyperrestaurant to learn more about Lebanon in 2009.
Social conditions
Social and health care is mainly provided under private auspices. In 1990, Lebanon had a physician of over 400 residents. Visit AbbreviationFinder to see the definitions of LBN and acronym for Lebanon. The most common causes of death are cardiovascular disease, typhoid fever and dysentery, but the protracted wars have of course also resulted in a large number of deaths. There are some public pension and benefit schemes, but they do not cover the entire population. Lebanon has received medical assistance from abroad, including from UNRWA. The women in Lebanon are considered to be more equal to the men than in many other countries in the region.
The country is still suffering from the suites after the civil war. The division between people groups, the various militias’ previous involvement in smuggling and drug traffic, etc., as well as many young people’s previous direct participation in the fighting, has contributed to low school attendance and that many younger men have been included in organized crime. Check to see Lebanon population.
On February 16, 1992 – eight days after peace talks between Arabs and Israelis resumed – Hezbollah’s leader, Sheikh Abbas Mussawi, was killed in an Israeli air strike. Six days later, the Shiite guerrillas ceased their attacks on Israel after an agreement was reached between Hezbollah, Amal and Syrian and Lebanese forces. The Israeli Defense Minister stated that any attack by this organization would be answered. At the request of the Lebanese ambassador, the UN Security Council condemned the violence in the region. In March, a large-scale Israeli mobilization at the border triggered fighting with the pro-Iranian militia. In April, Israel bombed a number of Shiite villages in the Bekaa Valley.
A general strike against official economic policy and violent demonstrations brought the pro-Syrian government led by Omar Karame to a standstill. President Elías Hrawi now appointed moderate Sunni Muslim, Rashid Al Sohl as new head of government. He put together a government that consisted of just as many Christians and Muslims. However, the August parliamentary elections were boycotted by the Christians. The new parliament included representatives of Hezbollah and Amal. In October, Saudi millionaire Rafiq al-Hariri was appointed new prime minister.
In 93, the World Bank granted a loan to the country to be used for reconstruction and education. The currency recovered 10% of its value, and foreign investment gradually began to return, but the gap between rich and poor grew.
Israel again bombed Palestinian refugee camps and PFLP bases. In August, the Lebanese government rejected an Israeli proposal for total withdrawal, for Israel’s demands were at the same time total disarmament of Hezbollah.
Although political violence continued in 1994, decisive progress was made towards peace. The economy grew by 6% and banks from the Netherlands, England and France returned after 20 years of absence. This year’s most serious terrorist attacks were the bombing of one of Hezbollah’s top leaders, the killing of 21 Israeli soldiers and a series of bomb attacks against Christian churches that cost dozens of lives. In March, the government shut down private radio and TV stations until a new press law could be drafted and at the same time imposed the death penalty for political murders or criminal acts.
Throughout 1995, the government’s attention was focused on resolving the armed conflict and rebuilding Beirut. In January, the UN Security Council decided to extend its intervention in the country. In parallel with the peace talks between Israel and Palestine in Oslo, Hezbollah and the SLA (South Lebanese Army) resumed their mutual attacks in the south, respectively. to expel the Israeli occupation forces and delay negotiations with Syria.
The fate of the Palestinians in Lebanon remained uncertain. The UN calculated that the country’s government failed to fulfill the civil rights of 338,000 refugees.
On June 24, former Maronite leader Samir Geagea was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his Christian rival, Dany Chamoun and his family. The verdict helped tip the political balance of power in favor of Muslims.
Climate
According to the differences in the landscape of Lebanon, the climate is also very different.
The coast has a Mediterranean climate with dry, warm summers and humid, rainy winters. In the mountains there is a pronounced mountain climate, with the main precipitation falling in winter and then mainly in the form of snow.
On the border with Syria there is a dry steppe climate, which forms the transition to the desert climate of southern Syria and Jordan.
In Beirut, the daytime temperatures average 18 ° C in January and 30 ° C in July and August. December and January have an average of 11 rainy days in Beirut, while August generally remains completely dry.