Food Insecurity Persists in Lebanon as Fragile Conditions Stall Recovery Efforts, New Analysis Shows

More than one million people face acute food insecurity, with the number projected to rise to 1.15 million by mid-2027 amid continued insecurity, economic pressures and weakened livelihoods.

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BEIRUT, Lebanon – More than one million people in Lebanon are already facing Crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity, requiring urgent action, with the number projected to rise to 1.15 million by mid-2027 amid continued insecurity, economic pressures and weakened livelihoods, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.

Conducted in September 2026 by the Ministry of Agriculture, with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other technical partners, the analysis highlights how successive crises have eroded household food security, livelihoods and families’ ability to cope.

The analysis projects that 1.05 million people, or 21 percent of the population analysed, will face Crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between September 2026 and February 2027, including 52,000 people facing Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4). By mid-2027, the number facing Crisis or worse is expected to rise to 1.15 million people, or 24 percent, while 97,000 people are projected to face Emergency conditions, almost double the current figure.

Although the current figure is below the 24 percent projected at the peak of the displacement crisis in the April 2026 IPC update, this should not be interpreted as a sustained improvement in household food security. The reduction reflects changing conflict and displacement conditions, while purchasing power, livelihood opportunities and families’ ability to cope remain severely constrained.

“Behind these figures are families running out of options,” said Allison Oman Lawi, WFP Representative and Country Director in Lebanon. “Some households can still draw on savings, borrow, cut expenses or find other ways to put food on the table. For others, those options are being exhausted. When families have nothing left to fall back on, even a small additional shock can push them deeper into crisis. We need to protect those facing the greatest hardship today, while helping families rebuild livelihoods and regain the resilience they have lost.”

Employment opportunities remain limited, savings have been depleted and debt remains high, while the cost of food, fuel and other essentials continues to strain household budgets. Many families are maintaining minimum food consumption only through increasingly difficult coping strategies and humanitarian assistance. Stable food consumption therefore does not necessarily mean that households have recovered or become more food secure.

Conditions remain most concerning in conflict-affected districts in southern Lebanon and vulnerable areas including Akkar and Baalbek-Hermel. Damage to farmland and productive assets, restricted access to agricultural land, disrupted farming and high production costs continue to weaken agricultural livelihoods, rural incomes and families’ access to food.

“The latest IPC findings underscore the urgent need to protect agricultural livelihoods and restore local food production,” said Veronica Quattrola, FAO Representative in Lebanon. “Timely support to help farmers rebuild productive assets, resume farming and sustain their incomes is essential to improving access to food. Investment in agricultural recovery must go hand in hand with helping rural communities better withstand future shocks.”

The impact is uneven across population groups. Among Lebanese residents, 686,000 people, or 18 percent, are currently facing high levels of acute food insecurity, rising to 805,000 people, or 21 percent, by mid-2027. Crisis or worse conditions currently affect 28 percent of long-staying Syrian refugees and 35 percent of Palestine refugees. Among people who arrived from Syria after December 2024, the proportion reaches 45 percent, making them the most food-insecure population group assessed.

Minister of Agriculture Dr Nizar Hani said: “These findings call for a coordinated national response that addresses urgent food needs while protecting livelihoods and restoring productive capacity. Supporting farmers and safeguarding rural household incomes are central to the Ministry of Agriculture’s response, helping to strengthen local food production and enable communities to recover and build resilience. Close coordination among national institutions and humanitarian and development partners is essential to direct resources where they are needed most and link emergency assistance with sustained investment in food security and livelihoods.”

The agencies are calling for sustained humanitarian assistance alongside longer-term investment in livelihoods, agricultural recovery and economic resilience. Stronger coordination among national institutions, humanitarian and development partners, and donors will be essential to prevent further deterioration and support a more sustainable recovery for vulnerable communities across Lebanon.

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About WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of weather extremes.

About the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members, 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

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