Financial meltdown hits Lebanese funeral trade

The dying of a relative has develop into a heavy monetary burden for Lebanese residents. In line with UN estimates, greater than 55% of Lebanon’s population is now dwelling below the poverty line.

The price of funeral providers in Lebanon varies relying on the spiritual neighborhood. The service charges are decrease for Muslims than for Christians and Druze, who’ve to purchase a coffin, funeral wreaths and garments for the deceased, whereas Muslims are buried wrapped in shrouds.

“The most affordable funeral and burial value no less than $600,” mentioned Fadi Michel al-Zaned, who owns a burial providers firm, informed Al-Monitor.

He added, “The costs have clearly gone up and proceed to take action. … A lot of the uncooked supplies used within the manufacturing of coffins are offered in {dollars}. The most affordable picket coffin … prices $65. It might attain $1,000 relying on the standard of the wooden and the nation from which it’s imported.” He famous that there’s additionally the casket lining to contemplate.

Zaned defined that with fuel so expensive and laborious to get, the price of transporting useless our bodies is no less than 300,000 Lebanese kilos for areas not removed from Beirut. Prices rise much more for areas additional away.

“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and economic situation in Lebanon, … deaths now introduced in textual content messages through WhatsApp or Fb. The household of the deceased solely prints 30 dying notices as an alternative of 200 for 200,000 Lebanese kilos,” he mentioned.

It’s not thought of shameful to not maintain a proper funeral and serve meals after the burial as a result of monetary scenario and COVID-19 restrictions. Zaned mentioned that “many households are not getting wreaths and may solely afford to supply espresso and water.”

“Some ask me if they will pay the charges in installments and most of them pay within the native foreign money, which I calculate relying in the marketplace fee,” he mentioned. “To be trustworthy, I’ve not suffered any losses due to the crises. This enterprise doesn’t cease.”

George Deabis, the proprietor of one other burial providers within the Hazmieh suburb of Beirut, is pressured to just accept funds in installments by the household of the deceased. He informed Al-Monitor, “There isn’t a different answer; it’s a humanitarian subject.”

The value of the coffin at his funeral residence shouldn’t be lower than 2.5 million Lebanese kilos (about $150) and may attain 12 million Lebanese kilos ($780).

He famous, “Nearly all of households are lowering bills for they see as luxuries now, such because the funeral reception for Christians and Druze, … regardless that it was central to Lebanese traditions.”

He added, “As for the dying discover, it’s not essential both. If a household decides to print them, they must pay no less than 200,000 Lebanese kilos.”

He mentioned of funeral wreaths, “Solely well-off households are sending them to the church or funeral residence. A lot of the flowers are imported and in winter the worth rises. The most affordable wreath prices 400,000 Lebanese kilos.”

Elias Germanos, who supervises a cemetery for the Maronite neighborhood in Beirut, informed Al-Monitor, “As for the grave, fee is made to the archdiocese and can attain $5,000. For an already used grave of somebody who died a very long time in the past and doesn’t have a household, the price is about $2,000. A brief grave, which signifies that after 5 years, the bones of the deceased are thrown put in an ossuary to permit one other particular person to be buried as a replacement, prices $200.”

Muhammad Wahbi, an official in a funeral affiliation affiliated with the Islamic Endowments, informed Al-Monitor, “Muslims in Beirut can pay roughly $2,000, not counting the reception and the funeral parlors, which value one other $2,000.”

He added, “The value contains the washing, shrouding and transportation. Generally, transportation is freed from cost, relying on the household’s monetary scenario. … Burial in an previous grave that belongs to the household can value between $500 and $700 as a result of costs range from one property to a different.”

Within the villages, the scenario could be very totally different. Sheikh Jamal Bashasha, a Muslim cleric from the village of Barja in Iqlim al-Kharroub, mentioned that in his space, “the funeral and burial value shouldn’t be almost as burdensome for households as within the cities.”

He mentioned, “It is because the graves aren’t offered. Moderately, land is designated for the burial of the deceased villagers or strangers and the physique is transported within the municipal automobiles. As for the condolences, they’re supplied on the household home. So the price is restricted to meals and low, which the household or neighbors pay for.”

He added, “We do not even want notices within the villages. We normally announce the dying from the minarets of mosques and the neighbors put together meals for the household of the deceased.”