Escalating since October 2019, the political and economic crisis is driving Lebanon to the brink of bankruptcy. The tragic situation has been exacerbated by a gigantic explosion of chemicals stored in Beirut’s seaport in 2020. The middle class has virtually ceased to exist. Educated citizens are fleeing hyperinflation, unemployment which rises every month, power cuts and fuel shortages.

Overview:

• Since the beginning of the crisis, the Lebanese pound has lost more than 98% of of its value (as of 2024)
• Since October 2019, food prices have increased by over 1,000%
• GDP has dropped by 70-75% compared to its pre-crisis value.
• 80% of the Lebanese population (over 3 million people) live in poverty. Extreme poverty has affected 36% of Lebanese (1.38 million)
• There is a shortage of specialist medications across the country, and the price of basic ones is beyond the reach of the average Lebanese
• Prolonged power and fuel shortages (up to 22 hours a day) are paralysing the daily lives of the Lebanese
• It is the country with the highest number of refugees per capita (1.5 million Syrian refugees and 11,645 refugees of other nationalities)
• As a result of the bombings carried out by Israel, the number of internally displaced people reached over 1.2 million in October 2024