More than one million people in Lebanon face acute food shortages
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Al Jazeera
More than one million people in Lebanon, nearly a quarter of the population, face acute food shortages. The number could reach 1.15 million by the middle of next year, amid recent conflicts and the economic crisis, according to the UN.
The number of Lebanese facing acute food insecurity could reach 1.15 million by mid-2027, up from more than one million currently. The estimate is contained in a joint statement published on Wednesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Programme and Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture.
The organisations said employment opportunities remain limited, household savings have declined and debt remains high, while food, fuel and essential goods prices are putting pressure on budgets. Allison Oman Lawi, the World Food Programme’s representative in Lebanon, said that even a limited additional shock could worsen the situation of families that have exhausted their resources.
Lebanon’s Agriculture Minister, Nizar Hani, called for a coordinated national response to address urgent food needs, preserve livelihoods and restore production capacity. Lebanese authorities estimate the cost of the two wars between Israel and Hezbollah since October 2023 at about $27 billion.
The latest war, which began in March, displaced more than one million people in Lebanon. About 300,000 people remain displaced since violence declined in June, while a framework agreement reached in June under US mediation provided for the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of the Lebanese army in evacuated areas.
