In light of severe economic hardships in Lebanon, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is increasing its financial assistance to help support 50,000 impoverished families.
The WFP already supports 15,000 families in Lebanon and is now going to help an additional 35,000 more families in one go.
“WFP is getting ready to assist the largest number of hungry people in its history,” the organization announced in an Instagram post.
This massive increase in beneficiaries comes as Lebanon faces a toxic cocktail of crises, including its worst economic crisis in history, the pandemic, and the aftermath of the devastating blast that struck the capital city last month, destroying the country’s main port and a large part of its capital.
“Now more than ever, impoverished families in Lebanon need a safety net to get through the month. The devastating blast that ripped through Beirut added to the woes of thousands of families already struggling to stay afloat,” issued Abdallah Alwardat, Country Director and Representative of WFP Lebanon.
Through the Ministry of Social Affair’s (MoSA) National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP), the WFP is able to provide monthly financial assistance of 70,000 LBP/person for a family of six.
Families will receive the money through an e-card that can be used to pay for food/groceries at any of the WFP-contracted shops across Lebanon. There are currently 460 of those shops in the country.
The WFP has actively been working to support people in Lebanon even before the blast. After the explosion, the WFP has provided thousands of food parcels and assistance to support vulnerable families.
Recently, the WFP donated 12,000 tons of wheat flour to Lebanon, allowing the raise of the weight of the bread bundle from 900 grams to a kilogram without raising the cost, and for a period of 62 days.
