Lebanon: Over One Million People Face High Levels of Acute Food Insecurity

Beirut, November 11 (KUNA) -- Results of an analysis released on Wednesday showed that more than one million people in Lebanon are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, necessitating urgent action. This was stated in a joint press release issued by the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP), following the preparation of a new assessment that reveals “the persistence of food insecurity in Lebanon amid fragile conditions that hinder recovery efforts.”

The analysis noted that this number is projected to rise to 1.15 million people by mid-2027, given the continuation of security challenges, economic pressures, and the deterioration of livelihoods. It pointed out that although the current proportion of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity has decreased compared to the 24 percent projected in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update issued in April 2026 during the peak of the displacement crisis, “this should not be interpreted as a sustainable improvement in household food security.”

The decline is attributed to changes in the conflict and displacement conditions, while households continue to face significant challenges, including declining purchasing power, limited livelihood opportunities, and weak resilience to ongoing crises and shocks. It added that “job opportunities remain limited amid the depletion of household savings, accumulating debts, and the continued rise in the costs of food, fuel, and other basic necessities,” thereby increasing pressure on household living conditions.

The analysis emphasized that stable levels of food consumption “do not necessarily reflect a genuine improvement in food security conditions, but may instead mask the continued fragility of households and their declining capacity to cope with future crises and shocks.” It highlighted that the most concerning situations are concentrated in conflict-affected areas in southern Lebanon, as well as regions suffering from fragile living and economic conditions, such as Akkar, Baalbek, and Hermel.

It showed that damage to agricultural land and productive agricultural assets, restrictions on access to farmland, disruption of agricultural activities, and rising production costs “undermine agricultural livelihoods and income sources for rural households.”

The analysis noted that acute food insecurity levels vary among population groups in Lebanon. Approximately 686,000 Lebanese residents, representing 18 percent of the population, face high levels of acute food insecurity, with this number expected to reach around 805,000 by mid-2027. Additionally, 28 percent of long-term Syrian refugees and 35 percent of Palestinian refugees face high levels of acute food insecurity, classified as Crisis or worse. This proportion rises to 45 percent among those who arrived from Syria after December 2024, making them the most affected group among the populations covered by the assessment.

For his part, Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani stated that the analysis results call for “a coordinated national response that combines meeting urgent food needs, protecting livelihoods, and restoring production capacity,” noting that the Ministry of Agriculture places supporting farmers and safeguarding income sources for rural households at the core of this response.

He emphasized that close coordination between national institutions and partners in the humanitarian and development sectors forms the foundation for directing resources to the most affected groups and areas, and for linking emergency aid to sustainable investments that enhance food security and reduce the vulnerability of households to future crises.

For her part, Allison O’Mane Lawi, Representative and Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Lebanon, stated that “some households can still rely on their savings, borrow money, cut expenses, or find other ways to secure food, but these options are already running out for other families. When households no longer have anything to fall back on, any additional shock, no matter how small, can push them into a deeper crisis.”

Meanwhile, Veronica Quatrulo, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Lebanon, highlighted the urgent need to protect agricultural livelihoods and resume local agricultural production, noting that investment in agricultural recovery and strengthening the resilience of rural communities are two key pillars for safeguarding livelihoods and mitigating the impacts of future crises and shocks.

The two UN agencies called for continuing humanitarian assistance in parallel with enhancing long-term investments in livelihood protection, supporting agricultural recovery, and building economic resilience. They also stressed the importance of intensifying coordination and cooperation among national institutions, humanitarian and development partners, and donors to ensure a comprehensive response that helps curb the worsening food insecurity, supports sustainable recovery, and strengthens the capacity of the most vulnerable communities across Lebanon to face future crises.

It is worth noting that this analysis was conducted last September by the Ministry of Agriculture, with technical support from FAO, the World Food Programme, and other technical partners. (End) A.Y.B. / N.A.A.