77% of families in Lebanon lack enough food

[alsemanche 97,799]

According to a report published by the UNICEF in June 2021, 77% of the households in Lebanon in Lebanon say they do not have enough food.

Main statistics from the report:

-Over 30% of families had at least one child who skipped a meal

-15% of families stopped their children’s education

-60% had to buy food on credit or borrow money

-76% of households said they were affected by increases in medication prices

-30% of children were not receiving the primary health care they needed

-40% of children are from families where no one has work

-77% of children are from families that do not receive any social assistance

-Over 400,000 are children out of school

-25% of families could not afford the tools needed for online learning

 

The prolonged economic depression is just one of the mutually reinforcing crises in Lebanon, which is reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the massive August 2020 Beirut Port explosions, as well as persistent political instability. In addition, Lebanon has the highest proportion of refugees per capita in the world, hosting 1.5 million Syrians and over 200,000 Palestinian refugees.

Faced with major inflation and rising unemployment, people are finding it increasingly difficult to access basic services – as their quality continues to rapidly decline. Poverty among the Lebanese almost doubled to 55 per cent in 2020, from 28 percent in 2018, while extreme poverty tripled from 8 percent.

Children across Lebanon are the worst hit. With no end in sight to the devastating crisis, their health and safety are at risk and their very future is at stake.

Source

[bionic 50,111]

Is Lebanon a failed state? This is so out of hand

[auburn 1,072]

3 minutes ago, bionic said:

Is Lebanon a failed state? This is so out of hand

We're on our way to become one for sure

[alsemanche 97,799]

We are HEAVILY struggling to survive here. My family is still able to stay afloat for now, which is more than I can say about the majority of the country. That being said, my parents' salary was reduced from what used to be equivalent to $2600 to what is now equivalent to ~216$. The currency is in constant devaluation and the prices are in constant increase. 

[COOOK 76,406]

Meanwhile:

I- 

[NFRatwell 23,290]

5 minutes ago, COOOK said:

Meanwhile:

I- 

It’s called celebrity culture, the thing we all endorse by being on here and buying merch from a millionaire  the virtue signaling… anyway that’s besides the point. It’s terrible what’s going on in Lebanon. Does OP recommend donations through UNICEF, since that’s who the article they linked is from? Or are there more local and reliable charities that goes directly to helping Lebanon’s economy crisis? 

[alsemanche 97,799]

35 minutes ago, NFRatwell said:

It’s called celebrity culture, the thing we all endorse by being on here and buying merch from a millionaire  the virtue signaling… anyway that’s besides the point. It’s terrible what’s going on in Lebanon. Does OP recommend donations through UNICEF, since that’s who the article they linked is from? Or are there more local and reliable charities that goes directly to helping Lebanon’s economy crisis? 

I wouldn't donate to the UNICEF tbh, they're corrupt and a lot of the money doesn't reach the people in need. I'll see if there are any local charities or mutual aid programs accepting donations though

[NFRatwell 23,290]

7 minutes ago, alsemanche said:

I wouldn't donate to the UNICEF tbh, they're corrupt and a lot of the money doesn't reach the people in need. I'll see if there are any local charities or mutual aid programs accepting donations though

I sort of jumped the gun and went with Red Cross Lebanon since I found their link on a website page (and Red Cross is rather popular in the US). But I would love to keep some more that you find reliable in mind. 

[littlepotter 76,610]

57 minutes ago, NFRatwell said:

I sort of jumped the gun and went with Red Cross Lebanon since I found their link on a website page (and Red Cross is rather popular in the US). But I would love to keep some more that you find reliable in mind. 

You're so sweet 

[Economy 52,845]

1 hour ago, alsemanche said:

I wouldn't donate to the UNICEF tbh, they're corrupt and a lot of the money doesn't reach the people in need. I'll see if there are any local charities or mutual aid programs accepting donations though

Im not sure swaping 1 charity for another makes a huge difference tbh. Pretty much all these charities have costs, often mismanagement or even corruption

 

U pretty much have to donate knowing at least some wont reach there. Ive donated to charities before but i knew full well there was a risk that for every dollar i donate probably only like 40 cents makes it to the people directly if that but it is what it is

 

We cant really control how organizations are run or go there and do the work our selves

 

Even if u send food directly. Remember Haiti?? Tens of thousands of pouunds of food ended up rotting at the airport because of beaureocracy

 

I hate this world. Even when ppl with some to spare wanna be generous to the poor the system finds a way to put roadblocks on your way

[alsemanche 97,799]

1 hour ago, NFRatwell said:

I sort of jumped the gun and went with Red Cross Lebanon since I found their link on a website page (and Red Cross is rather popular in the US). But I would love to keep some more that you find reliable in mind. 

The red cross is a good one yes! I'm sure theyre also struggling to find resources tbh.

I cant seem to find any reliable and trusted fundraisers if anything pops up ill get back to you about it. Thank you so much!!

[alsemanche 97,799]

6 minutes ago, Economy said:

Im not sure swaping 1 charity for another makes a huge difference tbh. Pretty much all these charities have costs, often mismanagement or even corruption

 

U pretty much have to donate knowing at least some wont reach there. Ive donated to charities before but i knew full well there was a risk that for every dollar i donate probably only like 40 cents makes it to the people directly if that but it is what it is

 

We cant really control how organizations are run or go there and do the work our selves

 

Even if u send food directly. Remember Haiti?? Tens of thousands of pouunds of food ended up rotting at the airport because of beaureocracy

 

I hate this world. Even when ppl with some to spare wanna be generous to the poor the system finds a way to put roadblocks on your way

Yeah sadly this stuff is always a mess. unicef is messier because politicians benefit from it too and they steal the money lol. I was trying to find small initiatives that are less bureacratic and more individual because these often recieve smaller amounts of money for specific people and directly give them to them, but there doesn't seem to be active ones currently. 

[MonsterPaws 2,745]

2 hours ago, NFRatwell said:

It’s called celebrity culture, the thing we all endorse by being on here and buying merch from a millionaire  the virtue signaling… anyway that’s besides the point. It’s terrible what’s going on in Lebanon. Does OP recommend donations through UNICEF, since that’s who the article they linked is from? Or are there more local and reliable charities that goes directly to helping Lebanon’s economy crisis? 

Ehhh unpopular--and definitely controversial--opinion here but a root of Lebanon's problems is a corrupt government. No amount of aid and support will help Lebanon in the long term unless it tackles institutional problems.

https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/cpi-2020-lebanon-systemic-corruption-problems-require-systemic-response

The World Bank, for example, aided Lebanon with COVID-19 vaccines and rollout (link) but some politicians took the vaccines for themselves in violation of the procedures they themselves promised to adhere to (link).

It's sad because Lebanon already had to deal with the aftermath of the civil war that affects them to this day and increasing corruption is the last thing the people need. I'm from a Middle Eastern country that is far from progressive but one thing we dont have is high corruption. So luckily I rarely if ever have to worry about politicians jumping the line for a vaccine the people need first.

And to make it clear this isn't a cultural problem with Lebanon (since my country is somewhat similar culturally to Lebanon--both Arab), it's almost entirely institutional and that is what has to change for Lebanon to get out of this.

[littlepotter 76,610]

I was really lucky to be able to find a online job last year which I still have and it's the reason I'm still living comfortably now... I can't imagine what my life would've been like otherwise. Everything is so horrifying

[LaLa 19,898]

2 hours ago, NFRatwell said:

I sort of jumped the gun and went with Red Cross Lebanon since I found their link on a website page (and Red Cross is rather popular in the US). But I would love to keep some more that you find reliable in mind. 

One thing to maybe recommend: the Lebanese population in my (Canadian) city organized their own direct fundraiser where they collected non-perishable food and personal items like diapers, clothes, etc and shipped a container over. They took cash donations too I think. Maybe see if there is something like that local to you?