A total of 1.05 million people in Lebanon, or 21% of the population covered by the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, are facing crisis-level acute food insecurity or worse, the Ministry of Agriculture, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP) announced, warning that the figure is projected to rise to 1.15 million by mid-2027.
According to a joint statement, the analysis, conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture in September 2026 with technical support from the two UN agencies and other technical partners, highlights the impact of successive crises on food security, household livelihoods, and resilience.
The analysis found that 1.05 million people are facing crisis-level food insecurity or worse—IPC Phase 3 or above—between September 2026 and February 2027. This includes 52,000 people in Emergency (Phase 4).
By mid-2027, the number of people facing crisis-level food insecurity or worse is projected to increase to 1.15 million, or 24% of the population covered by the analysis. The number classified as emergency is also expected to rise to 97,000, nearly double the current figure.
🚨 Over 1 million people in #Lebanon face acute food insecurity, with numbers projected to rise to 1.15 million by mid-2027. The latest IPC analysis highlights the urgent need for sustained food assistance and support to restore livelihoods. 🔗 https://t.co/i9hQfEmAul https://t.co/Xxp2AaEutv
— WFP Lebanon – برنامج الأغذية العالمي في لبنان (@WFPLebanon) November 11, 2026
The statement cautioned that the current rate, which is lower than the 24% projected in the April 2026 IPC update during the peak of the displacement crisis, should not be interpreted as evidence of a sustained improvement in household food security.
The decline reflects changes in conflict and displacement conditions, while households continue to face declining purchasing power, limited livelihood opportunities, and a reduced capacity to cope with ongoing crises and shocks.
Alison Oman Lawi, WFP Representative and Country Director in Lebanon, said, “Behind these figures are families exhausting the few options they have left.”
She explained that some households continue to rely on savings, borrowing, cutting expenses, or finding other ways to secure food, while others have already begun running out of these options.
She warned that any additional shock, however small, could push households that have exhausted their resources into an even deeper crisis. She called for the most affected communities to be protected and for families to receive support to rebuild their livelihoods and restore their resilience.
The statement noted that limited employment opportunities, depleted savings, mounting debt, and rising costs of food, fuel, and other basic necessities continue to intensify financial pressures on households.
It added that many families are increasingly dependent on humanitarian assistance and are resorting to increasingly difficult coping strategies to meet their minimum food needs. As a result, stable food consumption does not necessarily indicate a genuine improvement in conditions but may instead mask persistent household vulnerability and a diminished ability to withstand future shocks.
The most concerning conditions are concentrated in conflict-affected areas of southern Lebanon, as well as in regions facing economic and livelihood vulnerabilities, particularly Akkar and Baalbek-Hermel.
The statement also highlighted that damage to agricultural land and productive assets, restrictions on access to farmland, disruptions to agricultural activities, and rising production costs continue to undermine rural household incomes and limit their ability to sustain production and secure food.
For her part, Veronica Quatraro, FAO representative in Lebanon, said the findings underscore the urgent need to protect agricultural livelihoods and resume domestic production.
She stressed the importance of providing timely and appropriate support to enable farmers to restore their productive assets, resume their activities, and maintain their income sources, thereby strengthening their ability to meet their food needs.
Investing in agricultural recovery and strengthening the resilience of rural communities, she added, are essential pillars of livelihood protection and efforts to mitigate the impact of future crises and shocks.
The analysis also revealed disparities among population groups. Approximately 686,000 Lebanese residents, or 18%, are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with the number projected to rise to around 805,000, or 21%, by mid-2027.
Crisis-level food insecurity or worse affects 28% of long-term Syrian refugees and 35% of Palestinian refugees. The proportion rises to 45% among people who arrived from Syria after December 2024, making them the most affected group among those covered by the analysis.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Nizar Hani said the findings call for a coordinated national response that combines addressing urgent food needs with protecting livelihoods and restoring productive capacity.
He stressed that the ministry is placing support for farmers and the protection of rural household incomes at the heart of its response, with the aim of boosting domestic production and helping communities recover and build resilience.
He also emphasized that close coordination between national institutions and humanitarian and development partners is essential to directing resources towards the most affected groups and areas, while linking emergency assistance to sustainable investments that strengthen food security and reduce household vulnerability to future crises.
FAO and WFP called for humanitarian assistance to continue alongside increased long-term investment in livelihood protection, agricultural recovery, and economic resilience.
They also stressed the need to intensify coordination among national institutions, humanitarian and development partners, and donors to ensure an integrated response that prevents further deterioration in food security, supports sustainable recovery, and strengthens the ability of the most vulnerable communities across Lebanon to withstand future crises.
Source: Al-Manar Website