Half of Lebanon's population at risk of failing to access basic food needs by year's end ESCWA

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The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) issued a new policy brief entitled 'Is Food Security in Lebanon under Threat? '

In the report, the ESCWA said that Lebanon relies heavily on food imports to meet the needs of its population, adding that sfter the massive explosion that destroyed a significant part of the Beirut Port, the country's main logistical point for the entry of goods; and with the depreciation of the Lebanese pound by 78%; COVID-19 containment measures; and sharp increases of poverty and unemployment rates; more than half of the country's population is at risk of failing to access their basic food needs by the year's end.

“Prior to the blast, the national currency depreciation had already sharply inflated prices: the yearly average inflation rate is expected to be more than 50% in 2020, compared with 2.9% in 2019. In July 2020, the average price of food products had increased by 141% compared with July 2019,” the report stressed.

It also noted that a “further slight rise is expected owing to increased transaction costs of food imports and the lack of trust in the governance of food availability, which may induce panic buying.”

Commenting on this dire situation, ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti called on the Lebanese Government to prioritize the rebuilding of silos at the Beirut Port as a food security national asset, and rehabilitate the central drug warehouse and ensure continuous supply of essential medicines and vaccines for the most vulnerable.

'Immediate measures should be taken to prevent a food crisis, such as intensifying food price monitoring, ensuring ceiling shelf price and encouraging direct sales from local producers to consumers,' Dashti added.

Half of Lebanon's population at risk of failing to access basic food needs by year's end-ESCWA

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