Beirut, May 07 (QNA) – Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nizar Hany revealed that approximately 22.5 percent of Lebanon's agricultural land was damaged due to the recent Israeli aggression against the country, which resulted in significant losses for the agricultural sector.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Hany highlighted the negative repercussions on food security due to the substantial losses suffered by the agricultural sector, particularly since southern Lebanon accounts for about 70 percent of the country's citrus production and 90 percent of its banana production, in addition to its contribution to vegetable and fruit production and livestock farming.

He noted that only about 20 percent of banana production is consumed domestically, while the majority is exported to neighboring countries such as Syria, Jordan, and Iraq.

Dr. Hany affirmed that food security in Lebanon is not currently facing a major threat, but requires continuous efforts to maintain control. He noted that the Ministry has taken measures to facilitate the entry of products through both land crossings and the airport.

The Minister of Agriculture also emphasized that the repercussions of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon have affected various sectors, particularly those related to food, most notably the agricultural sector.

He revealed that the percentage of Lebanese citizens and residents suffering from a food insecurity crisis has risen to approximately 24 percent, compared to 18 percent at the end of last year, prior to the latest Israeli aggression against Lebanon, which began on March 2.

Dr. Hany noted that Lebanon had witnessed a significant improvement at the end of last year, reflected in a decrease in the number of people requiring emergency food assistance. However, the rate rose again due to declining agricultural production, the economic shock of the war, rising prices, and a massive influx of refugees exceeding one million people, many of whom were forced to leave their jobs, he added.

He considered that all these factors have placed considerable pressure on the food security situation and increased the number of people in Lebanon, including Lebanese, Syrians, and Palestinians, who need food support.

He added that the Ministry of Agriculture assesses the food security situation quarterly, every three months. He pointed out that the report issued by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), within the framework of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, showed that the recent escalation has pushed Lebanon back into a cycle of crises.

The Minister of Agriculture added that the report predicted that approximately 1.24 million people, nearly a quarter of the population, would face varying levels of food insecurity.

In this context, he revealed that the Ministry had prepared a food security response plan during the war, in cooperation with relevant ministries, UN agencies, and international organizations, with the aim of supporting agricultural production and enhancing food security.

He pointed to the significant repercussions of the Israeli war on farmers, particularly in southern Lebanon, noting that the Ministry is providing direct support to maintain the sector's continuity, especially for cattle, beekeeping, and sheep farmers, as they are the most vulnerable to losses.

These measures include relocating livestock to safe farms, providing cash support for feed, and in-kind assistance aimed at reducing losses, he said.

The Lebanese Agriculture Minister stressed that the continuation of the war will lead to further losses, revealing that estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with FAO, indicate that losses in the cattle, livestock, and beekeeping sectors due to the 2024 Israeli aggression against Lebanon amounted to approximately $89 million. (QNA)