Human Rights Watch Thursday released a report arguing that Lebanese authorities have “failed to uphold the right to electricity by mismanaging the sector for decades”.

The 127-page report, titled “‘Cut Off from Life Itself’: Lebanon’s Failure on the Right to Electricity,” asserts that the internationally-protected right to an adequate standard of living includes “the right of everyone, without discrimination, to sufficient, reliable, safe, clean, accessible, and affordable electricity,” as “electricity is fundamental to nearly every aspect of living and participating in present- day societies.”

The report outlines how decades-long mismanagement and corruption has resulted in widespread blackouts and power insecurity, culminating in the complete collapse of the energy sector in 2021. The government presently provides enough electricity for just one to three hours a day on average, which exacerbates inequalities, as Lebanon’s poorest citizens cannot access private generators. The UN now estimates that over two-thirds of Lebanon’s population live in poverty.

“Lebanon’s electricity crisis is leaving people in the dark and dramatically reducing people’s access to critical rights such as food, water, education, and health care,” commented Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The dire situation in Lebanon illustrates why access to safe, clean, and affordable electricity isn’t merely an amenity, but is a human right that the state has an obligation to fulfill,” she added.

As of January, the Lebanese caretaker government has approved opening $116 million worth of credit lines to help fix its ailing electricity grid, but the country’s government and central bank remain mired in corruption and political gridlock which have ground any attempts at meaningful progress to a halt.