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Nutrition Information in Crisis Situations - Lebanon
NICS 12, February 2007
A food security assessment conducted in 20 villages in Marjaayoun, Hasbaya
and Bint Jbeil Cazas, South Lebanon showed that farmers' households have been
badly affected by last summer's war (ACH-S, 02/07). As the conflict occurred
during the harvest season and farmers were not able to access their fields, it
is estimated that about 80% of their crops were lost. Moreover, about 50% of
fruit trees were damaged, including olive trees. More than half of the livestock
was also lost during the war. Some of the irrigation systems, tractors and
refrigerators were destroyed. About 25% of agricultural land remains unexploited
due to the presence of unexploded ordnance. Market prices of food stuffs have
increased by an average 36% with an increase of more than 100% for vegetables.
Farmers lack investment capacity, having lost most of last year’s crop. This
will impact negatively on the upcoming agricultural season. These areas were
already some of the poorest before the war. There are very few programmes and
organisations aimed at improving food security in the area.
NICS 10, August 2006
A major military operation was launched by Israel in Lebanon following the
kidnapping of 2 Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah in mid-July (SDC, 08/09/06). The
war lasted 34 days and ended with a ceasefire coming into effect on the 14th of
August. According to the Lebanese authorities, 1,187 people were killed and
4,092 injured (OCHA, 01/09/06). One hundred and sixty-one Israelis, 114 of them
soldiers, were also killed (BBCNews, 31/08/06). The war was characterized by
Israeli army air strikes, especially in South Lebanon and southern suburbs of
Beirut, strongholds of Hezbollah, and by rockets fired onto Northern Israel by
Hezbollah (BBCNews, 31/08/06). There was major damage in Lebanon, including
about 15,000 houses, 900 factories and commercial buildings, 78 bridges and 630
km of roads. About 900,000 Lebanese were displaced during the war as well as
50,000 Israelis.
A UN resolution voted in on the 11th of August authorised an increase in the
strength of UNIFIL to 15,000 soldiers. The Lebanese army would deploy in south
Lebanon and Israeli army would withdraw (UNIFIL, 13/09/06; UNNews, 12/09/06).
The blockade imposed by Israel on Lebanon was lifted in mid-September (OCHA,
12/05/06).
Most of the families who fled during the conflict have returned. As of
mid-September, it was estimated that about 15,000 people were still residing in
neighbouring countries (HRC, 12/09/06); about 800 people were in schools in
Lebanon and about 200,000 people were sheltered in religious buildings or with
host families (OCHA, 12/09/06).
Food security
The areas the hardest hit were also the areas with the highest poverty
indicators. According to a WFP assessment, food availability was more of a
problem during the war than access to food, but only led to a reduction in
consumers' choice of products (WFP, 09/06), without threatening nutritional
status. The most affected population was estimated to be daily wage labourers
and people working in the coastal fishing and agricultural sectors, due to loss
of income. Social network and remittances will be one of the most important
factors for people's ability to recover. WFP plans to continue delivery of food
assistance to 350,000 people at least until the end of October. Humanitarian
assistance during the following weeks will help people to return to
self-sufficiency. Overall, donor response has been generous.
Health
There were no major outbreaks of diseases (IASC/WHO, 01/09/06). At the
beginning of September, about 25% of the health facilities were not functioning
but availability of essential drugs was met.
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