WFP Warns Lebanon Faces Food Security Crisis Due to Iran War

JAKARTA - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday warned that Lebanon is facing a food security crisis as the Iran war disrupts the supply of goods in the country.

The fragile two-day ceasefire has temporarily halted the US-Israeli conflict with Iran that broke out on February 28, but so far has not eased Israel's parallel war against Iran's ally, Hezbollah, in Lebanon.

"What we are witnessing is not only a refugee crisis, but it is quickly becoming a food security crisis," said WFP's Director for Lebanon Allison Oman, quoted by Al Arabiya from Reuters (10/4).

He also warned that food was becoming increasingly unaffordable due to rising prices and demand among refugee families.

Meanwhile, vegetable prices have jumped more than 20 percent and bread prices have increased 17 percent since March 2, the WFP said.

"What we are seeing now is a very worrying combination: prices are rising, incomes are disrupted, and demand is increasing as the displacement of many families continues," Oman explained.

"Lebanon is facing a multi-layered crisis, in which some markets have completely collapsed - especially in the south, where more than 80 percent of the market is no longer functioning - while markets in Beirut are under increasing pressure," Oman said.

Many traders in areas affected by the conflict in southern Lebanon reported that their remaining stocks of basic foodstuffs were less than a week's worth, he added.

The ability to deliver food aid to hard-to-reach areas in the south, which have faced heavy bombardment by Israeli air raids since March 2, is becoming increasingly difficult.

Although the Qasmiyeh bridge, which was previously hit by an attack, is now operational, movement remains difficult. Ten WFP convoys have reached the south to provide assistance to an estimated 50,000 to 150,000 people in need of humanitarian support in that part of the country.

"This escalation pushes the vulnerable community closer to the brink of destruction," Oman said, adding that as a result of the latest escalation, some 900,000 people across Lebanon face food insecurity, a figure expected to rise.