The high U.S. dollar exchange rate and soaring prices of commodities in Lebanon have even taken their toll on papers. Printing a normal paper which had almost been free of charge in libraries is now being paid for, and the more is written the more is paid.

Most of Lebanese citizens are now avoiding photocopies in paper form and are being contented with electronic copies sent through the phone. What happened to this sector?

“Students have stopped photocopying all what is being asked from them; they only photocopy one or two papers and therefore, they become compelled to read their lessons on the phone in order to save money, even though their eyes get hurt,” Gigi Eid, a library owner, said.

In an interview with Sawt Beirut International (SBI) reporter Ghassan Farran, Eid said “the price of photocopying a paper has increased from 1,000 to 5,000 Lebanese pounds,” noting that “the prices have swelled 80% because we pay for all of the printer’s accessories in U.S. dollar.”

“The price of the paper box went from 20,000 to 200,000 LBP. All such costs will be paid by the consumer,” she said, adding that even those willing to get married “have stopped printing wedding invitations and are only sending them by WhatsApp.”

Having replaced the paper printing with electronic copies, will the Lebanese state increase the prices of phones and internet fees to keep tightening the noose on citizens and make them suffer more?