Say NO to poverty: Help save Lebanon
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Overview:
A country with a proud history of trade and commerce is starting to crumble into permanent poverty. In addition to the coronavirus that is affecting the world, Lebanon is enduring a political crisis, economic crisis, and famine. With soaring prices and a falling currency, Lebanon's middle class is sliding under the poverty line and could soon cease to exist, which puts over half of the population in danger of starving. The situation has hit rock bottom over the past few months and an estimated 60% of the population is unemployed. The rest are earning less than half of their salaries. Banks have imposed capital controls that have made things worse for everyone. Lebanon's economy is collapsing at a rapid rate as hyperinflation drives the lira above 9,000 at a rate of 471%/yr up from 1,500 in September.
Most Lebanese savings are gone, food prices are climbing, and many are going hungry. At the end of 2019, 45 percent of Lebanese were living in poverty, according to the World Bank. That number is now estimated to become more than 75 percent. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are facing hunger and homelessness on an unprecedented scale. More than a third of Lebanese people live in pain under the extreme poverty line with no jobs, social assistance, no government support, no adequate food, no medication, and no hope.
Background:
In 1997, the country lured the diaspora to invest back in Lebanon by fixing the exchange rate at 1,500 Lebanese liras to the U.S. dollar and, by doing so, minimized depositors’ risk. But as the economy stagnated, particularly after the Arab Spring and Syrian civil war began, successive governments overspent and failed to carry out reforms, and a lethal concoction of corruption and clientelism impeded the growth of the economy. To keep the currency peg, the central bank relied on financial engineering, offering unsustainably high-interest rates to big depositors in what has been described as a state-sponsored Ponzi scheme. When the real-world economy tanked, the banks were left exposed, and customers panicked. As they rushed to withdraw their money, the banks imposed stern capital controls. Now, ordinary Lebanese do not know whether they will ever get their money back. Moreover, the dollar shortage led to an increase in its value and a consequent decrease in the lira’s, reducing the value of the currency most Lebanese earn in.
Due to this, the Lebanese pound has lost over 86% of its value. The inflation rate is currently the 3rd highest in the world. Due to the corrupt political elite ruling class that has featured the same politicians for over 30 years, Lebanon has dysfunctional national institutions, electoral fraud, inadequate access to electricity or water, absence of basic services, and high rates of unemployment. This triggered the revolution in October of 2019 which were massive peaceful multi-sectarian demonstrations demanding change. The middle class has now lost two-thirds of it's purchasing power, throwing approximately 70% (World Bank) below the poverty line. Now many people don't have work and aren't able to pay rent, or buy food.
So while nearly the entire country suffers from starvation, the government has yet to put forth any plan on how to save the spiraling economy. In fact, Lebanon's biggest public hospital announced it was turning off ACs and postponing surgeries due to power cuts; 60% of butchers have closed; farmers are threatening a revolt; and people are dying from hunger.
Lebanon is starving and falling apart and you could help...
The purpose of this campaign and HOW YOU CAN HELP!
With the help of our partners, we aim to provide a beneficial response to Lebanon's economic and multi-dimensional challenges that are depriving so many Lebanese families of their basic needs and rights thus giving them hope.
The objective of this campaign is to help the growing number of Lebanese families in need. We, with the help of our partners, aim to mitigate this growth by aiding impoverished families by giving them food and the right tools to become sustainable. The funds raised will be allocated to local associations, which will constitute and distribute boxes containing food and basic necessities to families.
In addition to giving them food, these same local associations will deliver agricultural tools and seeds so that these families can cultivate their own fruits and vegetables and become self-sustainable.
Our partners:
Beit el Baraka (License # 2277) which distributes food to the most underprivileged while fighting against food waste in Lebanon. They also offer services such as a free supermarket, housing, medical support, and agricultural projects.
https://www.beitelbaraka.org/
The Lebanese Food Bank (Licence #1596), strives towards the eradication of hunger throughout Lebanon through a range of food, development/training, and awareness programs. At present, they provide food on a daily basis to families and individuals in need mainly through the collection of surplus food from partner restaurants, hotels, caterers, supermarkets and fruit and vegetables, food exporters/importers. Their main line of work is to provide food to a selected number of more than 70 Lebanese NGOs active in a variety of fields.
They also provide food boxes. $35 is enough to build a food box covering the needs of a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) for a month.
https://lebanesefoodbank.org/
Contact us:
If you are an association and you wish to work with us, please contact the following email address: [email redacted]
We thank you for your trust and especially for your help, and we will share updates through our Instagram and Facebook page: @CedarRelief
Sources/Read more:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lebanon/overview
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/05/21/lebanon-coronavirus-middle-class-poverty/
https://www.france24.com/en/20200519-lebanon-plunges-toward-mass-poverty-amid-virus-crisis
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/covid-19-lebanon-lives-poverty-line-200401124827120.html
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2020/06/16/feel-pain-lebanese-cardinal-urges-government-poverty-increases
https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/lebanon-faces-grave-threat-stability-poverty-mounts
A country with a proud history of trade and commerce is starting to crumble into permanent poverty. In addition to the coronavirus that is affecting the world, Lebanon is enduring a political crisis, economic crisis, and famine. With soaring prices and a falling currency, Lebanon's middle class is sliding under the poverty line and could soon cease to exist, which puts over half of the population in danger of starving. The situation has hit rock bottom over the past few months and an estimated 60% of the population is unemployed. The rest are earning less than half of their salaries. Banks have imposed capital controls that have made things worse for everyone. Lebanon's economy is collapsing at a rapid rate as hyperinflation drives the lira above 9,000 at a rate of 471%/yr up from 1,500 in September.
Most Lebanese savings are gone, food prices are climbing, and many are going hungry. At the end of 2019, 45 percent of Lebanese were living in poverty, according to the World Bank. That number is now estimated to become more than 75 percent. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are facing hunger and homelessness on an unprecedented scale. More than a third of Lebanese people live in pain under the extreme poverty line with no jobs, social assistance, no government support, no adequate food, no medication, and no hope.
Background:
In 1997, the country lured the diaspora to invest back in Lebanon by fixing the exchange rate at 1,500 Lebanese liras to the U.S. dollar and, by doing so, minimized depositors’ risk. But as the economy stagnated, particularly after the Arab Spring and Syrian civil war began, successive governments overspent and failed to carry out reforms, and a lethal concoction of corruption and clientelism impeded the growth of the economy. To keep the currency peg, the central bank relied on financial engineering, offering unsustainably high-interest rates to big depositors in what has been described as a state-sponsored Ponzi scheme. When the real-world economy tanked, the banks were left exposed, and customers panicked. As they rushed to withdraw their money, the banks imposed stern capital controls. Now, ordinary Lebanese do not know whether they will ever get their money back. Moreover, the dollar shortage led to an increase in its value and a consequent decrease in the lira’s, reducing the value of the currency most Lebanese earn in.
Due to this, the Lebanese pound has lost over 86% of its value. The inflation rate is currently the 3rd highest in the world. Due to the corrupt political elite ruling class that has featured the same politicians for over 30 years, Lebanon has dysfunctional national institutions, electoral fraud, inadequate access to electricity or water, absence of basic services, and high rates of unemployment. This triggered the revolution in October of 2019 which were massive peaceful multi-sectarian demonstrations demanding change. The middle class has now lost two-thirds of it's purchasing power, throwing approximately 70% (World Bank) below the poverty line. Now many people don't have work and aren't able to pay rent, or buy food.
So while nearly the entire country suffers from starvation, the government has yet to put forth any plan on how to save the spiraling economy. In fact, Lebanon's biggest public hospital announced it was turning off ACs and postponing surgeries due to power cuts; 60% of butchers have closed; farmers are threatening a revolt; and people are dying from hunger.
Lebanon is starving and falling apart and you could help...
The purpose of this campaign and HOW YOU CAN HELP!
With the help of our partners, we aim to provide a beneficial response to Lebanon's economic and multi-dimensional challenges that are depriving so many Lebanese families of their basic needs and rights thus giving them hope.
The objective of this campaign is to help the growing number of Lebanese families in need. We, with the help of our partners, aim to mitigate this growth by aiding impoverished families by giving them food and the right tools to become sustainable. The funds raised will be allocated to local associations, which will constitute and distribute boxes containing food and basic necessities to families.
In addition to giving them food, these same local associations will deliver agricultural tools and seeds so that these families can cultivate their own fruits and vegetables and become self-sustainable.
Our partners:
Beit el Baraka (License # 2277) which distributes food to the most underprivileged while fighting against food waste in Lebanon. They also offer services such as a free supermarket, housing, medical support, and agricultural projects.
https://www.beitelbaraka.org/
The Lebanese Food Bank (Licence #1596), strives towards the eradication of hunger throughout Lebanon through a range of food, development/training, and awareness programs. At present, they provide food on a daily basis to families and individuals in need mainly through the collection of surplus food from partner restaurants, hotels, caterers, supermarkets and fruit and vegetables, food exporters/importers. Their main line of work is to provide food to a selected number of more than 70 Lebanese NGOs active in a variety of fields.
They also provide food boxes. $35 is enough to build a food box covering the needs of a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) for a month.
https://lebanesefoodbank.org/
Contact us:
If you are an association and you wish to work with us, please contact the following email address: [email redacted]
We thank you for your trust and especially for your help, and we will share updates through our Instagram and Facebook page: @CedarRelief
Sources/Read more:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lebanon/overview
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/05/21/lebanon-coronavirus-middle-class-poverty/
https://www.france24.com/en/20200519-lebanon-plunges-toward-mass-poverty-amid-virus-crisis
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/covid-19-lebanon-lives-poverty-line-200401124827120.html
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2020/06/16/feel-pain-lebanese-cardinal-urges-government-poverty-increases
https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/lebanon-faces-grave-threat-stability-poverty-mounts
Organizer
Cedar Relief
Organizer
Roanoke, VA
