Half of Lebanese at risk of failing to access basic food: UN agency

BEIRUT - More than half of Lebanon's population are at risk of failing to access basic food needs by the year's end, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) reported on Sunday.

ESCWA attributes food shortage to the fact that Lebanon relies heavily on food imports to meet the needs of its population amid the massive explosions that rocked Beirut's port, the country's main logistical point for the entry of goods.

Also, ESCWA noted that the Lebanese pound depreciated 78 percent and poverty and unemployment rates increased sharply.

ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti called on the Lebanese government to prioritize the rebuilding of silos at the Beirut Port as a food security national asset, and rehabilitate the central drug warehouse and ensure continuous supply of essential medicines and vaccines for the most vulnerable.

"Immediate measures should be taken to prevent a food crisis, such as intensifying food price monitoring, ensuring ceiling shelf price and encouraging direct sales from local producers to consumers," Dashti added.