BEIRUT, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- In the border towns of southern Lebanon, Ramadan has arrived to the steady hum of Israeli drones, not the usual clatter of late-night markets.
For generations, these communities relied on small-scale trade and agriculture. Now they face twin strains: a brittle ceasefire and an economic collapse that has turned even modest household purchases into calculations.
A truce between Hezbollah and Israel has held since November 2024, but it has done little to restore a sense of normalcy. A deadline for withdrawal passed more than a year ago, and Israeli forces remain at several points along the frontier. Sporadic strikes continue. Many shops open only intermittently, wary of escalation.
"The shelling weighs heavily on the heart," said Jalal Shahrour, 60, who lives near the border. "But faith allows us to continue."
In the eastern town of Dibbin, the customary rush before the fasting month has long since given way to muted trade. This year is no different. Khaled Issa, 50, stood in his grocery store this week, straightening a sparse display of rice and flour. In previous years, he said, his shelves would have been filled in anticipation of Ramadan.
The tradition of stocking up has largely disappeared. Customers buy in small quantities. Some set items back on the counter when the total exceeds what they can afford.
"The daily military operations, the loss of neighbors, and the prices -- it all reduces the joy," Issa said. "Even a simple iftar has become a challenge."
Lebanon's economic collapse has deepened the strain. The World Bank estimates that the country's real gross domestic product has shrunk by nearly 38 percent since 2019. The Lebanese pound has lost over 97 to 98 percent of its value since 2019.
While inflation has eased from its peak but remains high, and poverty has spread. Food prices, in particular, continue to climb. In late 2025, inflation for food and nonalcoholic beverages hovered around 14.6 percent year-on-year, underscoring the persistent rise in the cost of staples even as overall consumer prices moderate.
For many families, a traditional Ramadan basket, which contains cooking oil, dates, and legumes, is now a significant expense. In Bint Jbeil, near the border, some households have scaled back their meals.
Fatima Bazzi, a homemaker, said her family now relies in part on donated dry goods. Meat appears less frequently on the table, replaced by dishes built around rice and chickpeas.
Yet some rituals endure. At sunset, neighbors still exchange small plates of food, preserving a sense of community in uncertain times.
"We try to make iftar a moment of joy," Bazzi said, "despite the sadness around us."
