More than one million people in Lebanon face acute food shortages, UN says

Nearly a quarter of Lebanon’s population, or more than one million people, is facing acute food shortages due to two consecutive conflicts in less than two years and a dire economic situation, according to the United Nations. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme (WFP) and Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture warned in a joint statement published on Wednesday that the number is expected to rise to 1.15 million by the middle of next year.

“Employment opportunities remain limited, savings have been depleted, and debt remains high, while the cost of food, fuel and other essentials continues to strain household budgets,” the joint statement said. “Some households can still draw on savings, borrow, cut expenses or find other ways to put food on the table.

For others, those options are being exhausted. When families have nothing left to fall back on, even a small additional shock can push them deeper into crisis,” Allison Oman Lawi, WFP representative and country director in Lebanon, said.