Food security in Lebanon: A multifaceted challenge

Abstract

Food insecurity is a global threat, and its prevalence keeps on increasing especially in the MENA region. Lebanon, a country that has been suffering from multiple unfortunate events for decades now is at a disadvantage when it comes to standing up against food insecurity. According to the World Bank, the Lebanon crisis is classified as one of the “top 10 most severe crises globally since the 19th century”. Many barriers need to be surmounted to reach food security in the country, and since it is a land highly dependent on the importation of food, the number of factors influencing the narrative of the fight against hunger is multiplied. With the Ukraine-Russia war, Lebanon's wheat reserve has been drastically impacted, an alarming issue that requires urgent remedy otherwise basic food unavailability can be further threatened. Many efforts have been made by international bodies, the state, national communities, social groups, and initiatives to help save the country. The increase in the gap between the values of the Lebanese Pound and the United States Dollar, the corruption of the state, and many other factors cause Lebanon's survival to be highly dependent on its allies and global donations. In this article, we will discuss the barriers to food security and sustainability in Lebanon and their burden on the country. We will then move our focus towards the efforts made by multiple factors, national and international. Finally, we will finish by discussing recommendations that may be of good use when it comes to saving a country on its knees from a decade of conflicts.