Food security in Lebanon

Lebanon is clubbed with middle range countries in food security. According to an ESCWA report, 49 percent of Lebanese are reportedly worried about their ability to access enough food, and 31 percent of them stating that they were unable to eat healthy and nutritious food over the course of a year. There is scary statistics related to food security in Lebanon especially after the flow of Syrian refugees.

Syria used to be an important route for agriculture activities in Lebanon. There was an agriculture trade through Syria and with Syria. The bilateral agreement has declined from 2011-2012, which led to the increase o illegal trade on borders for the two countries. From 2015, things started are getting worse especially for Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Food secure Syrian refugees households have fallen from 25 percent to 11 percent. Syrians refuges are depending on food assistantship provided by UNHCR which amount is decreasing by time. 15% of the Lebanese children under five suffer from dwarfness.

Lebanon food export compared to Lebanon food import is 16.5%. More than 50% of our food is imported.

Read the full article by Nouhad Awwad via Ecomena.

[Photo by Rain Rannu | Flickr]