Lebanese man dies after setting himself on fire at school

Harsh living conditions and financial situation prompted a Lebanese man to commit suicide after he was unable to pay his daughter’s school fees.

George Zreik died from severe burns on Friday after he doused himself with petrol and set it ablaze in front of a private school that refused to provide him with transfer documents for his daughter due to unpaid fees, according to the Lebanese National Media Agency.

The school issued a statement saying that because of the man’s financial situation he had been only paying transportation and registration fees, but not tuition fees, since 2015.

Lebanese Ministry of Education opened an investigation into the incident and pledged to cover the cost of educating Zreik’s two children, a statement said. The minister “hoped this painful incident will give the government an incentive to address difficult economic and living condition.”