Lebanese rely on affordable traditional meals amid economic crisis

STORY: Lebanese rely on affordable traditional meals amid economic crisis DATELINE: Nov. 30, 2022 LENGTH: 0:02:05 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a local canteen offering ful medames STORYLINE: Lebanon's financial and economic crisis has forced Lebanese to cut down their expenses and spend less on different kinds of needs including food. Since 2019, Lebanon's financial meltdown, seen by the World Bank as one of the worst crises since the 1850s, has plunged over 80 percent of the Lebanese population into poverty. Many Lebanese can't afford different types of food. They have to rely on cheap meals, such as traditional food. Ful medames is a traditional Lebanese meal prepared with cooked fava beans seasoned with garlic, olive oil, cumin and lemon juice. A plate of it for two people costs around 60,000 Lebanese pounds (1.5 U.S. dollars), which is affordable for most people. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut. (XHTV)