Warning of "starvation" in Lebanon due to coronavirus

Human Rights Watch warned, on Wednesday, of "hunger" threatening the population of Lebanon due to the spread of the novel coronavirus and the restrictions taken to combat it in a country that is suffering mainly from an economic collapse, calling on the government to take urgent measures to provide aid to the most affected.

"Millions of Lebanese residents are at risk of starvation because of the epidemic-related closures, unless the government urgently develops a robust and coordinated plan to provide aid," the organization said in a statement.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated a devastating economic crisis that was already there," the organization added.

In addition to 4.5 million Lebanese, the authorities estimate that there are 1.5 million Syrian refugees and 174,000 Palestinian refugees.

Lebanon has so far officially registered 575 infection, including 19 deaths.

Since mid-March, the government has taken a series of measures, starting with a total closure that excludes ovens and foodstuff stores, and requires residents to stay in their homes and close all sea, air and land outlets, until a total curfew is imposed at night.

These measures have major repercussions for the daily workers, many of whom are refugees, as well as workers in the liberal professions, who suffer mainly from the economic collapse. And 45 percent of the country's population is now living in poverty.

"The targeted shutdown has slowed the spread of the coronavirus, exacerbating poverty and the prevailing economic hardship in Lebanon before the virus arrived," said Lina Zemet, senior researcher on poverty and inequality at Human Rights Watch.

"Many have lost their income, and more than half of the population may be unable to purchase their food and basic necessities if the government does not intervene," she added.

To address the repercussions of the Covid-19 epidemic, the government formed a "Social Emergency Committee".

On Wednesday, the Minister of Social Affairs announced a "social solidarity program" as part of this plan, and its aim is "to help the families most in need and affected by the global epidemic."

The government agreed at the end of last month to "provide a cash contribution of 400,000 Lebanese pounds to the needy families."

However, Human Rights Watch considered that the government "did not provide sufficient details" about the number of beneficiaries and how the plan was implemented.

And local media reported last month that a taxi driver burned his car when security forces asked him not to roam in compliance with the restrictions. A social media image of a person holding a sign in which he offers to sell his kidney was also circulated.

International organizations warn of a catastrophe that may affect the crowded and poor Palestinian refugee camps in the event of the arrival of the novel coronavirus, especially that most of them suffer from difficult living conditions, and the majority of them work in limited areas such as agriculture and construction.

"Syrian refugees did not have many economic options even before the coronavirus crisis," said Aya Majzoub, Lebanon's researcher for the organization, noting that their situation "depends mainly on international assistance for refugee programs."

Lebanon has been experiencing a rapid economic downturn for months, amid severe liquidity shortages, a rise in prices and a devaluation of the lira against the dollar in the parallel market.

The government, which is on the verge of finalizing an economic plan and describing it as a "rescue," on Monday called on the international community to support Lebanon financially to help it overcome its financial and economic crises, which were exacerbated by the epidemic.

And the World Bank is discussing, according to a spokeswoman told AFP at the end of last month, with the government to provide technical and financial support to Lebanon to help it cope with the economic and financial repercussions on the poor.