Lebanon on the brink of a double water and food crisis

Lebanese people line up in front of a bakery in Sidon, a city in the south of the country, on August 13, 2021. AFP - MAHMOUD ZAYYAT

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

The country of the cedar is likely to be confronted with "

serious water shortages

", according to the director of Unicef, Henrietta Fore, in an article published on the site of the UN agency.

Lebanon could also be experiencing a food crisis, warned the head of the union of food importers.

The World Bank calls the situation in the country one of the most serious crises in the world since the mid-19th century. 

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

Paul Khalifeh

Four million people out of six and a half million inhabitants are facing a risk of " 

serious water shortages

 " in Lebanon, according to the director of Unicef ​​Henrietta Fore. "

Water and sanitation, electricity networks and health care are under pressure,

" added the head of the UN agency. Even more serious: "

 hospitals and health centers do not have access to drinking water due to electricity shortages, which puts lives in danger

".

"

If four million people will be forced to resort to dangerous and expensive water sources, public health and hygiene will be compromised,

 " warns Henrietta Fore.

Therefore, an upsurge in water-related diseases, in addition to an increase in Covid-19 cases are feared.

► 

To read also: Lebanon: anger explodes at the inability of the authorities to manage the crisis

Food pillars weakened

The president of the union of food importers Hani Bohsali for his part warned of a major food crisis.

The trade unionist indicated that the three pillars of the sector are weakened: the drop in imports due to the collapse of the Lebanese pound, the difficulty for the Lebanese to obtain their food needs because of the decline in their purchasing power. and finally, food security, threatened by the shortage of fuels, which compromises refrigeration and preservation.

► 

To read also: In Lebanon, the head of Hezbollah announces the arrival of Iranian oil

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