A new UN-backed report warned Wednesday that the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel could drive nearly quarter of Lebanon‘s population into acute food insecurity.
The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP), released the report based on the latest the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.
According to the report, “1.24 million people – nearly one in four of the population analyzed – are expected to face food insecurity levels” at crisis or worse between April and August 2026.
The report noted that this figure marks a “significant deterioration” from an estimated 17% of the population facing acute food insecurity in the period between November 2025 and March 2026.
“The deterioration is due to conflict, displacement and economic pressures,” the statement said, referring to Hezbollah-Israel which erupted on March 2, when the Iranian-backed group decided to retaliate for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Hard won gains have been swiftly reversed. Families who were just managing to cope are now being pushed back into crisis as conflict, displacement and rising costs collide, making food increasingly unaffordable,” WFP Representative and Country Director in Lebanon, Allison Oman Lawi, said.
According to the report, Bent Jbeil, Marjeyoun, Sour and Nabatiyeh districts have witnessed the sharpest deterioration.
The report also warned that food insecurity will likely deepen in the coming months without predictable humanitarian assistance, improved access, and stabilization of the security and economic environment.
While a US-brokered ceasefire took effect in Lebanon on April 17, Israeli troops are still operating in the south and trading fire with Hezbollah. The conflict has so far killed more than 2,500 Lebanese and displaced over one million, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.
