Food insecurity returns
to near pre-conflict levels

Gains remain fragile, new report shows

Food security situation shows signs of cautious recovery, but remains precarious amid lingering economic and structural challenges, according to ‘Lebanon: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)’, a report launched today at the Ministry of Agriculture with senior officials from the ministry, FAO, and WFP. The report covers the period April–October 2025.

The report reveals that one in five people in Lebanon – about 1.17 million individuals – are currently experiencing crisis or emergency levels of acute food insecurity. This marks an improvement from earlier this year when 1.65 million people were affected in the aftermath of the conflict. Experts are cautioning that the gains are fragile and could be reversed without sustained intervention.

Ceasefire, Aid, and Market Recovery Contribute to Temporary Relief
The IPC report attributes the improvement to the ceasefire agreement, short-term increases in food assistance, and modest recovery in local markets. But these developments are overshadowed by persistent inflation, sluggish economic growth, and significant funding gaps in humanitarian programs.

“The numbers show that while humanitarian support has helped reduce immediate pressures, the situation remains highly unstable,” said Matthew Hollingworth, Acting FAO Representative in Lebanon. “Many families are one setback away from falling back into crisis. What we need now is predictable, long-term assistance to preserve the progress made,” he said.

Veronica Quattrola, Acting FAO Representative in Lebanon, pointed to the impact of the recent hostilities on agricultural systems: “Mass displacement and damage to agricultural infrastructure have threatened food production and access. Targeted support for agriculture is vital for long-term resilience.”

Crisis Hotspots Identified, More Hardship Expected Ahead
The report pinpoints to areas with the highest food insecurity, including Baalbek-Hermel, Baabda, Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun, Nabatieh, Tyre, and Akkar. The most affected groups are:
• Around 591,000 Lebanese (15 percent of Lebanese households)
• Approximately 515,000 Syrian refugees (37 percent of Syrian refugees)
• Nearly 67,000 Palestinian refugees (30 percent of Palestinian refugees)

Looking ahead, projections estimate that the number of food-insecure individuals will rise to 1.24 million between July and October 2025 – or 23 percent of the population analyzed – driven by seasonal pressures, further economic contraction (with GDP still 34 percent below 2019 levels), and expected reductions in humanitarian funding.

Government Calls for Coordinated National Response
Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani said that food security is a central pillar of his strategy. “We are still reeling from the cumulative impacts of crises since 2019,” he said. “The IPC initiative, which we joined in 2022, allows us to base our policies on scientific analysis to target interventions more effectively.” He called for a coordinated approach involving multiple ministries, including Economy, Health, Environment, and Social Affairs, to support nutrition, education, and agricultural development.

As part of its efforts, the ministry has launched a ‘Food Contaminant Observatory’ and reactivated food safety laboratories in Kfarshima. These initiatives aim to improve food quality control and promote healthier local production.

The IPC report was developed in collaboration with WFP, FAO, the American University of Beirut, the Central Administration of Statistics, and a number of NGOs.