Lebanon in deepening hunger crisis as over 1 million displaced, WFP warns

Rome— Lebanon is facing a worsening humanitarian emergency as the conflict enters its third month, with more than one million people displaced and rising food prices pushing basic necessities beyond the reach of many families, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

The agency warned on Monday that a combination of mass displacement, economic hardship and market disruptions is driving a sharp deterioration in food security across the country. An estimated 1.24 million people, nearly one in four residents, are expected to face acute food insecurity between April and August 2026.

Since the escalation of hostilities on 2 March, WFP has expanded its operations nationwide, reaching more than 700,000 conflict affected people with emergency food and cash assistance. The organisation said it has supported an average of nearly 150,000 people per day, distributing hot meals, ready to eat rations and food parcels to families displaced by the fighting.

Despite the scale up in aid, humanitarian agencies continue to face significant operational challenges. Daily bombardments and repeated displacement orders have restricted access to affected communities, particularly in southern Lebanon and other hard to reach areas.

WFP reported that 24 humanitarian convoys have been dispatched to southern Lebanon, including border communities, Tyre and Hermel. However, more than half of the requested convoys have been delayed or cancelled due to security concerns and movement restrictions.

The agency's emergency response currently includes cash assistance for nearly half a million Lebanese citizens through national support systems, as well as support for more than 100,000 Syrian refugees living in the country.

Since the beginning of the crisis, WFP has distributed almost five million hot meals, prioritising newly displaced families who arrived at shelters with few belongings. More than 215,000 displaced people have received assistance across more than 500 shelters nationwide, while approximately 85,500 people in host communities and isolated areas have also benefited from aid programmes.

In an effort to stabilise food supplies, a shipment of 250 metric tonnes of wheat flour recently entered Lebanon through a humanitarian corridor from Jordan. The delivery, coordinated between Jordanian and Lebanese authorities, is expected to support around 10,000 vulnerable households.

The WFP led Logistics Cluster has also expanded its operations, assisting 64 humanitarian partners, including United Nations agencies and non governmental organisations. Eighteen of those organisations have utilised logistics services to transport nearly 2,500 cubic metres of humanitarian cargo across the country.

While food remains available in many parts of Lebanon, affordability is becoming an increasingly serious concern. Since the start of the conflict, vegetable prices have risen by more than 20 per cent, while bread prices have increased by around 15 per cent.

The situation is particularly severe in southern Lebanon and the Nabatieh region, where more than 80 per cent of markets are no longer functioning. In Beirut and other urban areas, markets remain operational but are coming under growing pressure as supply chains face disruption and demand continues to rise.

WFP stressed that maintaining humanitarian access, stable supply routes and adequate funding will be essential in the coming months. The agency has appealed for US$112 million between May and August 2026 to sustain life saving food and cash assistance programmes.

Without predictable funding, WFP warned, its ability to continue supporting hundreds of thousands of vulnerable families across Lebanon could be placed at risk at a time when humanitarian needs are increasing rapidly.

PS