The image of civilians desperately seeking food while under Israeli bombardment has, in recent months, become a symbol of the Gaza war. Now, fears are rising that this same scene could unfold in Lebanon. To head that off, the World Food Programme has, in recent hours, launched an emergency operation to meet the growing humanitarian needs of Lebanon’s population.
Nearly a million people are the first recipients planned for this operation, at least in the initial phase. They are mainly internally displaced people who fled the most affected areas due to airstrikes and are settling in the central and northern parts of the country.
The escalation of the conflict this weekend underscored the need for an immediate humanitarian response, the agency explained. “Thousands have been displaced, deepening the fragility of a population already coping with multiple crises”, they added.
Back to the Beginning
In this context, the World Food Programme has issued an urgent appeal to the international community to provide funding swiftly to address the crisis. The agency says at least 105 million dollars are needed through the end of the year.
“I have heard stories of families forced to flee their homes, leaving everything behind. We are preparing”, said Matthew Hollingworth, the WFP country director in Lebanon. “But we urgently need additional resources to sustain and expand our response”, he added.
Another War
Corrinne Fleischer, the WFP director for the Middle East, has emphasized the necessity that attacks stop immediately. “Lebanon is at a critical point and cannot endure another war”, Fleischer stated.
“A further escalation would be extremely harmful for the people in this region, who have already suffered a great deal”, she continued. “Moreover, it would heavily strain the operational and financial capacities of the humanitarian community. The WFP is on the ground, but funds are urgently needed. And more urgently, the people of the region need peace”, Fleischer argued.
Indeed, the situation in Lebanon was already dire before the Israeli bombardments. According to the organization, nearly half of the resident population, including locals and refugees, faced food insecurity, and 2.5 million people needed humanitarian assistance to avoid going to bed hungry every day.