Lebanon's PM Warns of Starvation due to Economic Crisis

Prime Minister of Lebanon Hassan Diab warns that his country is about to face a major food problem due to the severe financial crisis in the country.

The envisioned starvation is one of the consequences of the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Diab drew a bleak image of the severe shortages of food supplies in Lebanon, revealing that the pandemic sparked a complicated global crisis in food security.

Diab pointed out that a big number of the Lebanese people may soon find it is difficult to save the price of bread.

The PM said it was necessary to resist attempts to restrict food exports in the world, calling on the United States and the European Union to create an extraordinary fund to help peoples of the Middle East avoid a severe crisis.

The PM added that hunger-stricken region may release a new wave of migration to Europe and further destabilize most of the states.

The PM affirmed that the prices of imported foodstuffs have more than doubled since the beginning of 2020.

Lebanon imports more than half of its food needs.

He said that Lebanon, which was once a food basket in the Eastern Mediterranean, faces a major challenge that was not possible imagine it a decade ago. The country is expected to face a major food crisis.

He expressed concern at the repercussion of the food crisis which became more complicated, as Lebanon witnessed the first hunger protests weeks ago. Many Lebanese have stopped buying meat, fruit and vegetables . They may not soon be able to afford the price of bread.

Lebanon's PM explained that the COVID-19 disease and the restrictions imposed to contain it led to a major economic crisis that caused turmoil in the food supply chain, stressing that decades of political mismanagement and corruption are the reason for the lack of investment in agriculture.

He added that 80% of Lebanese wheat comes from Ukraine and Russia, but last month Russia suspended wheat exports while Ukraine was considering taking a similar decision.

Lebanon faces a severe crisis even before the Corona outbreak, as the value of the local currency has fallen by more than half since last October amid a shortage of foreign exchange. Inflation and unemployment rates have risen sharply.

Lebanon also defaulted on its sovereign debt in March.