Half of Lebanese population at risk of facing food crisis: UN
- The crisis comes as a result of the August 4 blasts at the Beirut port
- The blasts destroyed Lebanon's largest grain storing facility
- It also killed 188 people and wounded thousand more
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) said on Sunday that more than half of the Lebanese population could face food shortage and immediate measures should be taken to prevent a food crisis, news agency AFP reported. Even before the August 4 blasts at Beirut port, which killed 188 people and destroyed the country’s largest silos, the country was mired in an economic collapse.
“More than half of the country’s population is at risk of failing to access their basic food needs by the year’s end,” the ESCWA was quoted by AFP, as saying.
Read: WATCH: Lebanese woman plays piano in her shattered home destroyed by Beirut blasts
ESCWA executive secretary Rola Dashti said that the Lebanese government should rebuild the silos on priority, as it is the country’s largest grain storage facility.
Lebanon defaulted on its debt and a major portion of the city, including the silos, was destroyed in the explosion.
The local currency in Lebanon has fallen in value and poverty rates are soaring as are the number of COVID-19 cases.
“The yearly average inflation rate is expected to be more than 50% in 2020, compared with 2.9% in 2019,” ESCWA said in a statement.
According to AFP, aid agencies and experts have concluded that the annihilation of the silos at the Beirut port could worsen the situation at Lebanon, which relies on imports for 85% of its food needs.
Read: Less than a month’s grain reserve left in Lebanon following Beirut blasts
ESCWA said increased transaction costs of food imports could lead to a further rise in prices.
To prevent a crisis, authorities must set a ceiling for food prices and encourage direct sales from local producers to consumers, Dashti added.
She also urged the international community to “expand food security programmes targeting refugees and host communities” to help defuse “potential social tensions”.
Earlier this month, ESCWA said more than 55% of the Lebanese are “trapped in poverty and struggling for bare necessities”.
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