Lebanon, Iran, Eritrea.

Today's three stories you should know.

Sep 17, 2022

Lebanon

A wild and heartbreaking day in Lebanon as at least eight banks were held-up by customers desperate to access their own savings. Lebanon is in the grip of one of the worst economic crises in world history and a staggering three-quarters of the population have been pushed into poverty. As mentioned in Proximities a couple of days ago, banks have restricted people to taking out between $200 to $400 of their own money each month, leaving many with large amounts of savings devalued and effectively trapped. Banks have announced they will close for three days next week until the situation is under control. Government critics have pointed out that, instead of tackling the bank “robbery” situation, officials would be better off solving the underlying economic crisis that has led to so many people taking such measures.

Iran

Iranians have taken to the streets to protest after a young woman died in the custody of so-called “morality police” who had arrested her for taking her hijab off. Activists have in recent weeks been urging women to discard their veils in public to defy the country’s strict dress code and videos have spread on social media of women being treated roughly by the morality police for doing so. Police said that the woman, Mahsa Amini, had fallen ill while waiting with other women at a morality police station where she had been taken to be "convinced and educated." Activists, though, suspect she may have been beaten and are calling for a full and transparent investigation.

Eritrea

Eritrea is calling up huge numbers of military reservists to bolster its army as it supports the Ethiopian government in its civil war across the border. Witnesses told the BBC that reservists up to the age of 55 were being called up and transported to the border within hours. The move is a grim sign that a lasting peace may remain elusive in Ethiopia after violence erupted again following a five-month ceasefire. Eritrean troops have been accused of committing widespread atrocities during the war.