‘Thousands of children going hungry’ a year after Beirut blast

The cash-strapped government has faced shortages of fuel, medicine and basic goods, which have resulted in surging prices. Most Lebanese families face hours of power cuts daily, while millions are on the brink of losing access to safe water, according to the UN.

“Hundreds of thousands of children are going to bed hungry, often without having eaten a single meal that day,” Jennifer Moorehead, Save the Children’s country director in Lebanon said in a statement.

“Families can’t afford the electricity to run a fridge or hot water, or the medicines they need to treat illness. The longer this situation continues, the more likely it is that children will slide into malnutrition, which ultimately could lead to death,” she said.

The analysis found that many families in Lebanon have resorted to cutting back on food, education and medical expenses, selling furniture, or taking on crippling debt.

The aid group said about 47 percent of Lebanon’s population cannot afford essential goods like lentils, cooking oil, diapers, sanitary pads and fuel.

The dire situation is particularly pronounced for the estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon, with 90 percent unable to purchase basic goods, according to the analysis.