Lebanon is facing a major food crisis. Struck by an unprecedented economic meltdown, nationwide protests, and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, more than 3.7 million people in the small Middle Eastern nation, which houses more refugees per capita than any other, are struggling to afford staple foods. On Aug. 4, with Lebanon already on the brink, massive explosions at the Port of Beirut destroyed the only large grain silo in the nation and the main entry point for essential food imports, exacerbating existing shortages. As the Lebanese people grieve the loss of more than 200 lives, famine looms.
As political leadership flounders, a grassroots network of Lebanese organizations, with support from thousands of volunteers and contributors, is coming together on the ground to fight the looming food crisis.