It is a tale of love and dedication scripted in the heart of Abu Dhabi
The Lebanese army will start offering tourists helicopter joyrides this week in a bid to boost the coffers of one of the crisis-hit country’s key institutions.
An economic crisis that the World Bank describes as likely one of the world’s worst since the 1850s has hit the Lebanese military hard, leaving it struggling to pay troops enough to live on.
In an announcement on its website, the army said it would be offering civilians the chance to see “Lebanon... from above” with 15-minute flights.
The joyrides on board the army’s Robinson R44 Raven helicopters would start on Thursday and would be open to passengers aged three and above.
Up to three people would be allowed aboard per flight, which costs about $150 and is to be paid in cash.
The aim is “to encourage Lebanese tourism in a new way, in addition to supporting the air force,” a military source told AFP.
The economic crisis has eaten away at the value of soldiers’ salaries and slashed the military’s budget for maintenance and equipment.
Towards the middle of last year, the army said it had scrapped meat from the meals offered to on-duty soldiers, due to rising food prices.
Lebanon has been without a functioning government since a massive blast in Beirut in August last year killed more than 200 people and ravaged swathes of the Mediterranean port city.
Politicians have failed to agree on a new cabinet line-up even as foreign currency cash reserves plummet, causing fuel, electricity and medicine shortages.
Earlier this month, France hosted a donor conference at which 20 nations agreed to provide emergency aid to Lebanon’s military.
It is a tale of love and dedication scripted in the heart of Abu Dhabi
The event brought together key players in the polo community to celebrate a successful season and honour outstanding achievements
In the first two days after the torrential rain on Tuesday, around 1,244 flights were cancelled
There has been fear that decades of enmity between the two could spill over into all-out war
The leading hypermarket chain has implemented additional measures to ensure sufficient stock availability for shoppers
Thousands of personnel deployed to clear accumulated water, clogged drains, and fallen trees
Areas such as Abu Shagara, Al Qasimiya, King Faisal Road, Al Mahatta, and Majaz have been particularly affected
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its call on the United Nations and the UN Security Council to fulfill their responsibilities