Beirut: The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has launched the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis covering the period from November 2025 to July 2026, with technical support from the IPC Global Support Unit (GSU). As Lebanon enters the new year, the analysis shows that food insecurity remains fragile and highly sensitive to shocks, despite some easing observed under current conditions.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the report reveals that around 874,000 people-approximately 17 percent of the population analyzed-are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity between November 2025 and March 2026. While this reflects a relative stabilization compared to previous periods, the situation does not indicate a sustained recovery. Many households remain close to critical thresholds and highly vulnerable to economic, political, and security shocks.
Food insecurity continues to affect certain districts and vulnerable population groups more severely. Persistent pressure is observed in parts of Baalbek and El Hermel, Akkar, Baabda, Zahle, Saida, Bent Jbeil, Marjayoun, El Nabatieh, and Tyre, as well as among refugee communities. For the first time, the assessment also includes people arriving from Syria after December 2024, reflecting evolving displacement dynamics and the need to better capture emerging vulnerabilities. These areas continue to experience compounded pressures from conflict impacts, displacement, limited livelihood recovery, and constrained access to essential services.
Looking ahead, IPC projections for April to July 2026 indicate that the number of people facing acute food insecurity is expected to increase to around 961,000 people-approximately 18 percent of the population analyzed. This projected deterioration is driven primarily by anticipated reductions in humanitarian food assistance, alongside persistent economic pressures, high living costs, slow recovery of livelihoods, ongoing displacement, and delayed reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.
The analysis highlights the slow and uneven recovery of agricultural livelihoods. Damage to irrigation systems, roads, and storage facilities, rising input costs, and recurrent drought continue to constrain production, particularly in the Bekaa and southern regions. These challenges were further exacerbated by an exceptionally dry 2024-2025 season, which reduced water availability for key crops.
In this context, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Nizar Hani, affirmed that the findings "clearly demonstrate the scale of the remaining challenges facing food security in Lebanon, despite the positive indicators recorded over the past year." He emphasized the need for strategic investment in local agricultural production, protection of natural resources, and empowerment of rural communities to bolster resilience and sustainability. The Ministry is working with FAO and WFP to develop programs aimed at rehabilitating agricultural infrastructure, improving production, and enhancing market access.
Anne Valand, WFP Representative and Country Director a.i. in Lebanon, highlighted the precarious situation of families who remain vulnerable to slipping back into acute food insecurity. She stressed the importance of predictable assistance to help people meet basic food needs and prevent further deterioration.
Nora Ourabah Haddad, FAO Representative in Lebanon, noted a slight improvement in food insecurity trends but acknowledged that 17,000 agricultural households still face food insecurity. Small-scale farmers are particularly affected, with significant income declines due to conflict and dry spells. FAO is prioritizing efforts to restore agricultural livelihoods and protect farmlands.
More than a year after the November 2024 ceasefire, Lebanon's food security situation remains highly sensitive to changes in the security and economic context. As the country enters 2026, the findings underscore the need for sustained humanitarian assistance, close monitoring of evolving risks, and coordinated action to protect the most vulnerable populations.