Cash Crunch Pushes Libyans To Bank Cards Despite Hurdles

A bank in the Libyan city of Misrata -- Libyans are increasingly turning to cashless solutions (Credit: AFP)

In Libya, a shortage of cash in the banking system has pushed many to turn to cards for payments after more than a decade of war and instability has hammered the country's financial system.

Across most Libyan cities, withdrawing money is akin to an obstacle course in which hundreds wait, often for hours, outside heavily guarded banks for a turn to take out cash.