1.5 million Lebanese live below the poverty line of $3.84 a day per person, ie LBP 5,760 a day. That’s one third of the population (!!) and yes that’s a lot.

It means that one third of Lebanese people struggle to cover their basic needs and have to make daily compromises between food, rent, and health. This number has increased since  the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011: the poverty rate was 28 % back then.

What’s worse, 10 % of Lebanese (around 404,000 people) are considered extremely poor, as they live with less than $2.4 a day (LBP 4,260). Again, this number increased since 2011, from 8 to 10 percent. And we’re talking Lebanese nationals only, without taking into account Palestinians and Syrians. All in all, it is estimated that 3.3 million (!!!) people are in need of assistance in Lebanon, over a 5.9 million population currently living in the country.

This situation is affecting social relationships and wellbeing, and ultimately threatening the country’s stability.

Source: Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, data at end December 2016