LEBANON – A report by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies – Beirut, based on data from the Central Administration of Statistics, has warned of the worsening food security crisis in Lebanon, amid soaring food prices and declining household purchasing power.
According to the report, food prices in Lebanon have increased by 19,845% since the onset of the financial crisis in 2019, while prices rose by an additional more than 70% between summer 2023 and April 2026, despite the adoption of dollarization.
The report noted that around 1.24 million people in Lebanon are facing food insecurity or worse conditions, stressing that food security is not limited to the availability of food in markets, but also depends on people’s ability to access and afford it.
Amid rising living costs, 45% of Lebanese households have been forced to adopt coping strategies, including reducing dietary diversity, purchasing cheaper and lower-quality alternatives, and cutting down on the number of daily meals.
The report raises questions about the impact of the war on the food crisis, and whether it caused the current food security crisis or instead accelerated and deepened its deterioration.
