Lebanon
- 22%
- of Lebanese households are food insecure
- 25%
- of the population is made up of refugees
- 6.8 million
- population (World Bank, 2021)
Small, densely populated and lying at the heart of a region beset by conflict and political instability, Lebanon is experiencing a profound economic crisis in addition to the protracted Syrian refugee crisis.
Decades of financial mismanagement precipitated in an economic recession. The ongoing failure to implement urgent political and macroeconomic reforms has led to an economic crisis that the World Bank has called one of the top 10 most severe crises globally since the 19th century. The social impact of the crisis has been dire for all population groups in Lebanon: prices continue to rise, with basic commodities including medicine and fuel increasingly scarce, while employment opportunities and salaries have sharply declined.
What the World Food Programme is doing in Lebanon
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Economic crisis response for vulnerable Lebanese
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With more than half the Lebanese population currently living below the poverty line, food security has become a major concern for many. As a response, WFP will ensure that 100,000 Lebanese families have their food needs met by the end of 2021 through in-kind food distributions. The provision of food parcels helps counter the impact of inflation and the decreased purchasing power following the devaluation of the national currency.
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Food and basic assistance for refugees
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WFP provides Syrian refugees and refugees of other nationalities with cash-based assistance through electronic cards, allowing them to meet their basic needs by either buying food items in any of 400+ contracted shops across Lebanon or withdrawing cash from ATMs to spend on what they need. The system allows beneficiaries to choose the makeup of their meals, gives them access to fresh produce and significantly boosts the local economy.
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Beirut port explosion response
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As an immediate response in the aftermath of the Beirut blast, WFP allocated food parcels to families and communal kitchens in the blast-stricken area and brought into Lebanon 12,500 metric tons of wheat flour to support food security after the explosion. Following the immediate response, WFP provided multipurpose cash assistance to 89,000 vulnerable people affected by the explosion for a period of six months. WFP also provided support to over 200 businesses reeling from the devastating impact of the Beirut blast.
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School meals
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WFP distributes daily nutritious snacks to vulnerable Lebanese and refugee school children in public schools across Lebanon. With the closure of schools due to COVID-19, WFP adapted its programme and has distributed food parcels to families of vulnerable school children across the country. The parcels provide the families with 40 percent of their monthly nutritional needs, and act as an incentive for parents to keep their children enrolled in public schools across the country.
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Livelihoods
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WFP delivers livelihood programming to vulnerable Lebanese, Syrian refugees, and refugees of other nationalities. Participants receive trainings to build their individual capacities, along with short-term cash assistance to support their essential needs. As the economic crisis heavily affected people’s ability to find work opportunities and have a reliable source of income, WFP’s livelihoods interventions empower participants and gives them the opportunity to provide for themselves in a challenging environment.
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Social protection
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WFP supports the food component of the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP), which is Lebanon’s first targeted social safety net programme assisting Lebanese living in poverty. NPTP food assistance is delivered via e-cards which can be used in more than 400 WFP-contracted shops to buy food, enabling the most vulnerable Lebanese families to meet their basic food needs all year long. Building on its expertise and tools, WFP is also assisting the Lebanese government through direct support in the effective implementation of the NPTP.
Lebanon news releases
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Find out more about the state of food security in Lebanon
Visit the food security analysis pageOperations in Lebanon
Contacts
Office
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Beirut
Lebanon