U.S. Helps Confront Food Insecurity in Lebanon
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea has met with World Food Program Deputy Country Director Nicolas Oberlin and others to learn more about the World Food Program’s ongoing efforts to address the deteriorating food security situation in Lebanon, the U.S. Embassy said on Friday.
World Food Program experts provided “a detailed overview to Ambassador Shea of their food distribution process for Lebanon’s most vulnerable communities,” the Embassy said in a statement.
“Shea was grateful to meet directly with several current beneficiaries of the program and to learn more about the daily challenges these families are confronted with. After discussing their experiences, the ambassador reiterated the United States Government's commitment to addressing Lebanon’s acute humanitarian needs,” the statement said.
“Basic goods have become unaffordable for many families and there is a real and growing food insecurity problem. We want to understand the economic drivers that are causing this -- and how to address them. In the meantime, we are doing what we can to support the Lebanese and their families, and we appreciate the partnership of trusted institutions like the World Food Program,” said Ambassador Shea.
On the occasion of Shea’s visit, World Food Program Deputy Country Director Nicolas Oberlin said: “The U.S. is a major donor helping us to help vulnerable populations in Lebanon.”
Oberlin also highlighted “the positive impact these food assistance programs have on the livelihoods of thousands of families,” the statement said.
Since 2012, the United States Government, through USAID, has provided “assistance benefitting more than one million people in Lebanon who face food insecurity,” the statement added.
With the United States' assistance, the World Food Program is providing emergency food assistance to 543,000 people in Lebanon through its COVID-19 crisis response program and distributing in-kind food assistance and food vouchers to nearly 78,000 people affected by the August 2020 explosions.