UN warns over one million in Lebanon face acute food shortages

More than one million people in Lebanon are confronting acute food shortages, the United Nations said.

A joint statement from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme and Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture warned that the figure, representing almost a quarter of the population, could rise to 1.15 million by mid‑2025 without urgent action.

The statement highlighted limited employment, depleted savings and high debt, with rising costs of food, fuel and other essentials straining household budgets. While some families can still rely on savings or borrowing, many have exhausted these options, leaving them vulnerable to further shocks.

WFP country director Allison Oman Lawi warned that when families have nothing left to fall back on, even a small additional shock could deepen the crisis. Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani called for a coordinated national response to meet urgent food needs while protecting livelihoods and restoring productive capacity.

Lebanese authorities estimate the two wars with Israel since October 2023 have cost about $27 billion, displacing over one million people at the height of the conflict, a number that has fallen to around 300,000 since June. The country continues to grapple with its worst‑ever economic crisis, which began in 2019, and is awaiting IMF‑backed reforms to unlock a bailout.

Source: Al Jazeera. Photo: Julia M Cameron / Pexels.