JUNE 7, 2021
New Report From the World Bank Lebanon Economic Monitor
Lebanese Struggle to Put Basic Food Items on the Table

New Report From the World Bank Lebanon Economic Monitor
The World Bank Lebanon Economic Monitor recently released a report on the state of Lebanon’s economic and financial crises and ranked the country in the top ten, possibly the top three, of most severe crises since the mid-nineteenth century. Following last year’s report, it continues to note that policy responses to the crises are “highly inadequate.” The World Bank estimates that Lebanon’s real GDP is likely to further contract by 9.5 percent this year. [World Bank]

ANALYSIS

“Lebanon is enduring a severe and prolonged economic depression. In the face of colossal challenges, continuous policy inaction and the absence of a fully functioning executive authority threaten already dire socio-economic conditions and a fragile social peace with no clear turning point on the horizon. Former Undersecretary Hale recently announced an immediate humanitarian package for the people of Lebanon. The US must lead with other partners to significantly fund programs that support the poorest of the poor of the Lebanese people.”
-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel

ANALYSIS

“Ferid Belhaj, a World Bank official who has spent many years in Lebanon, noted during the MEI Lebanon Conference in a session hosted by Ronnie Hammad of LIFE, that there was great distrust between the government and the people and a change was needed to the social contract. He said that civil society and the media have important roles to play in reminding the government of the need for a new system of governance based on laws being equally applied. How much longer can we say that time is running out?”
-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader

Lebanese Struggle to Put Basic Food Items on the Table
As Lebanon’s economic crises continue, Lebanese families are struggling to put food on the table. Manoucheh, once a staple food item in Lebanon, has become a luxury item that few can afford, reports Robert McKelvey for Al Jazeera. Small bakeries already struggling from the state of the economy took a hit after the Port of Beirut explosions. Many are struggling to stay open. [Al Jazeera]

ANALYSIS

“Whenever I go to Lebanon on, I try to stay in a hotel that has a manouchech stand nearby. It takes me back to the old Lebanon, pre-civil war when life seemed satisfied with the basic pleasure of that bread topped with zaatar and jibin or any of the half-dozen toppings you could order. I have a friend in Virginia who claims that zaatar should only be used on manoucheh and nothing else, a point we can’t agree upon as a I enjoy experimenting with lots of uses. Sometimes we need a simple memory of simpler times to remember why Lebanon matters so much to us overseas Lebanese…while our hearts are breaking.”
-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.