BEIRUT: The United Nations has warned that food insecurity is rising sharply in Lebanon, as escalating conflict and continued Israeli strikes drive up prices and disrupt supply chains across the country.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said Lebanon’s food system is under severe strain, with markets and distribution networks increasingly affected by the ongoing violence, including some of the heaviest strikes reported this week.
“What we’re witnessing is not just a displacement crisis: it is rapidly becoming a food security crisis,” said Allison Oman, the WFP’s country director in Lebanon.
“We’re already seeing clear signs of rising food prices across Lebanon. In just one month, the price of vegetables has surged by more than 20 per cent, and bread prices have increased by 17 per cent.
“For families who are already struggling, this is deeply concerning,” she adds.
Israeli military says over 4,300 Hezbollah sites dismantled
The Israeli military has claimed that it has dismantled more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, according to AFP. The army also said it has eliminated over 1,400 Hezbollah fighters as part of ongoing operations.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s health ministry reports that at least 1,888 people have been killed since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalated on March 2, including 163 children, highlighting the rising human toll of the conflict.
Israeli strikes kill eight Lebanese security personnel
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) on Friday reported heavy Israeli airstrikes targeting several areas in the southern city of Nabatiyeh, including a state security office, according to Al Jazeera.
The agency said the strikes destroyed multiple buildings and resulted in the deaths of at least eight state security personnel, describing the incident as a “horrific massacre.”
NNA added that emergency teams and ambulances are transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals as rescue operations continue in the affected areas.
