Millions of Lebanese Face Acute Food Shortages, UN Reports

UN Warns of Escalating Hunger Crisis in Lebanon

A joint statement issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme, and Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture has warned that nearly a quarter of Lebanon’s population is facing acute food shortages due to ongoing conflicts and economic instability. According to the UN, more than one million people are currently experiencing food insecurity, with this number expected to rise to 1.15 million by mid-next year.

The statement highlights the limited availability of employment opportunities, depleted savings, and high levels of debt, which are straining household budgets. While some households may still be able to access their savings or find alternative ways to afford food, others are facing exhaustion of these options.

Lebanon’s Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani has called for a coordinated national response to address urgent food needs while protecting livelihoods and restoring productive capacity. The country’s authorities estimate that the cost of recent conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah amounts to approximately $27 billion.

The last war, which began in March, displaced over one million people in Lebanon before numbers fell to around 300,000 following a ceasefire in June. Despite a framework deal signed with the United States to bring an end to fighting, Israeli forces remain occupying land in Lebanon under the terms of the agreement.

Source: Al Jazeera