Cable theft leaves Jezzine in darkness

The Jezzine village of Jermaq has been stripped of all of its electricity cables by thieves working on two consecutive nights, leaving it in complete darkness. Jezzine’s inhabitants were forced to leave during the civil war and returned in 2000. Those who did come back are weekend-dwellers, and live in only one neighborhood that has 29 homes. According to Jermaq’s mayor, Nabil Shadid, this absence combined with rolling blackouts allowed thieves to work during the night last Wednesday and Thursday. “Thieves cut the three parallel cables that extend from near Shaqha Spring to Mar Maroun Church,” Shadid explained, adding that 1,800 meters of electric cable were stolen. Shadid has filed a complaint with the police. He also spoke to officials from Electricite du Liban in Nabatieh, which supplies the village with its power despite the fact that it lies in the administrative district of Jezzine. The village’s houses, church and municipality are now without power. “We call on all officials, especially President Michel Sleiman, to immediately work on returning electricity to Jermaq because we have suffered enough tragedy, displacement and suffering [in the war] and now darkness has come to increase the ordeal of Jermaq’s residents who have been working for many years to return,” he said. “Their lands were sold during their enforced absence, and after the liberation [of the south from Israel] they came back, looking for land to build on.” The mayor is especially perplexed given that the lines cross a main road that connects Nabatieh and Jabal Rihan. He says that trucks transporting stones and sand cross the road day and night. “The people of Jermaq are wondering how the theft took place on two consecutive nights, without intervention by authorities, who should stay up late looking after people’s security and possessions,” he said.