Lebanese officials lift fuel subsidies_  Catastrophe warns

Caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon_ Hasan Diab approved a plan to decrease crucial fuel subsidies_ a move observers warned could unleash a  social catastrophe as the economy continues to crumble.

Diab said the goal was to secure enough fuel throughout the summer_ where he hoped to see expats and tourists visit the cash-strapped country.

It would now import fuel at 3_900 Lebanese pounds to the dollar_ as opposed to 1_500. A ministerial source told Al Jazeera the price of a tank of petrol could increase by almost twofold.

The decision was made following a meeting last week between President Michel Aoun_ central bank Governor Riad Salameh_ caretaker Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar_ and caretaker Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni at Baabda Palace.

Economist and American University of Beirut professor Jad Chaaban told Al Jazeera that rolling back on subsidies at this point in time is a huge risk. Not only are livelihoods worsening_ but also protesters have blocked roads across the country more frequently_ as they fear having to live in even more dire economic conditions.

 If you double the price [of gasoline and fuel] then you double the price in all products and services that require them_ the economist said_ fearing further tensions.  It s a national security issue now.