‘It refuses to be fixed’ Hopes fade for a state near failure

The lights dimmed further in Lebanon in May when two giant barges that had boosted its electricity grid were switched off. The result was six hours less power a day for most homes, or more need for generator fuel for those who could afford it.

However, fuel is also in short supply in the crisis-hit nation. Giant queues clog roads near filling stations and top-ups are limited to 20 litres, making most journeys precarious.

Last weekend, troops deployed in the northern city of Tripoli, surrounding key state institutions after