According to the World Bank over a Quarter of Lebanon's population have been pushed into abject poverty over the past 12-18 months as a result of the worsening economic climate. The situation has been worsened by the political instability within the country and the turmoil in neighbouring countries and the wider region. With a continued refugee crisis and an ongoing pandemic (as a result of COVID-19) there has been immense stress put on Lebanon’s public finances, service delivery, infrastructure and the environment. The crisis is expected to worsen poverty incidence among Lebanese citizens as well as widen income inequality. An additional 350,000 to 400,000 Lebanese citizens are estimated to have become unemployed, most of them unskilled youth pushing the rate up to nearly 40%. Coupled with chronic Money shortage, with banks restricting withdrawals, families have been driven to breaking point and pushed the poor and vulnerable to desperation.
This is why we have started providing food packages to the extremely poor, widows, orphans and the disabled. North Lebanon, which is the most affected region within the country, with over half the population living on or below the poverty line, has been our major recipient of aid. We are now seeking further support from the community to provide more food packages into areas such as the Al Minieh, Tripoli, Al Duniya and Akkar.
Our tax deductible $50 food packs contain most of the staple foods which will last a family of 4 about 1 months. Distribution is ongoing but we need you support to sustain this while the threat of Coronavirus still lingers.
