Lebanon is the first ever Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Food Security Analysis predicts the situation will worsen between January and April this year, with 2.26 million people – 1.46 million Lebanese residents and some 800,000 refugees – expected to be in “crisis phase” or worse and in need of urgent assistance.
The results of the analysis were officially announced by Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Lebanon Nora Ourabah Haddad and the World Food Program (WFP) Country Director in Lebanon, Abdallah Al Wardat.
The UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, and other stakeholders involved in the process also attended the launch.
record need
A three-year economic crisis, during which the currency has sharply depreciated, food subsidies have been lifted and the cost of living has risen dramatically, is preventing families from having enough food and other basic needs every day.
“More people than ever in Lebanon are now in need of assistance,” said WFP’s Abdallah Al Alwardat. “These results are deeply disturbing and reflect the dire situation many people in Lebanon are currently facing.”
After FAO‘s Nora Ourabah Haddad: “The IPC results give us a bleak picture of the country’s food security. They reaffirm the urgent need to transform the country’s food systems to make them more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.”
Integrated approach
She said the study provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of national and international stakeholders coming together “to deliver sustained support to those most in need through the combination of humanitarian and development interventions in an integrated approach.”
The study, conducted in September by 55 national experts, found that Akkar district has the highest level of acute food insecurity among Lebanese residents, followed by Baabda, Baalbek and Tripoli.
Among Syrian refugees, Zahle district has the highest level of acute food insecurity, followed by Baalbek and Akkar.
Food insecurity and malnutrition were classified using the established IPC protocols developed by the IPC Global Partnership and implemented worldwide.
The Minister of Agriculture in the interim government, Dr. Abbas Hajj Hassan said that the launch provided an opportunity “to jointly discuss solutions in the face of social and economic crises that can keep up with the crises Lebanon is suffering.
“Realistic Vision” required
“The goal has always been to create a common realistic vision for Lebanese society on an economic and social level, linked to food security to ensure that it is not compromised, while ensuring that Lebanese citizens can secure their food daily needs.”
In their launch press release, the two UN agencies said that with the extension of aid to Lebanon, “the needs of the people continue to grow due to the ongoing local and global crises. These challenges are pushing increasing numbers of people into food insecurity, making it increasingly difficult for them to access adequate food and nutrition.
“We are grateful for the commitment of our donors and ask for additional support from the international community to deal with this critical situation. Without urgent action, the consequences for the health and well-being of these vulnerable populations will be severe.”
