PovertyLebanon, the small Mediterranean country of 10,452 km², the home of the Phoenicians, and the land that has overcome multiple internal and external wars, finds itself sucked into a tornado and struggling to stay afloat.
Today, the once Paris of the Middle East is struggling to survive due to an economic recession, the catastrophic explosion that hit the capital, Beirut, on August 4, 2020 and of course the spread of COVID-19.
The current situation is threatening one of the most basic human rights for the people residing in Lebanon; their food security.
According to a brief published by UNESCWA, Lebanon has witnessed a 30% reduction in the size of the middle-income group, a significant drop from 57 to 40% in population between 2019 and 2020. Currently, over 55% of the population are either categorized as Extreme Poor (23.2% up from 8.1% in 2019) or Poor (32% up from 19.8% in 2019). In 2020, the lower middle class population has shrunk from 45.6% in 2019 to 35.2%, the upper middle class from 11.5% in 2019 to 3.6% in 2020 and the affluent from 15% in 2019 to 5% in 2020.
Additionally, Lebanon’s national currency has lost approximately 80% of its value since October 2019, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). It also recorded an increase of 109% in food prices (85% of which is imported), leaving a relatively large number of people struggling to provide their daily meals.
A survey conducted by InfoPro, a leading provider of research to large and medium size companies in Lebanon and a prime research contractor to the World Bank and several UN organisations, showed that the total number of the unemployed has reached 550,000 or 30% of a total labor force of 1.8 million, down by 19% from 2019.
The struggle for food is on a continuous rise
The struggles aren’t exclusive to the Lebanese. As stated by WFP, Lebanon has the world’s highest per capita refugee presence, estimated at one quarter of the overall population. As of September 2020, there are 879,529 Syrian refugees registered in Lebanon by UNHCR; however, the number of unregistered refugees is much higher. According to WFP estimates, the number of Syrian refugees who are severely or moderately food insecure stands at 1.2 million, only 800,000 of whom are receiving assistance.
Given the ongoing crisis, several international and humanitarian organisations have come forth to assist in alleviating the hunger distress. In November, WFP assisted a total of 1,094,677 beneficiaries through cash-based transfer modalities amounting to USD 33.8 million and through distribution of family food parcels as part of the COVID-19 and economic crisis response. The people assisted were 265,921 vulnerable Lebanese, 807,668 Syrian refugees and 21,088 refugees of other nationalities.
More still needs to be done; many people need help to provide for themselves and their families.
