FAO official: Weak currency, weary economy cause upheaval for Lebanon

FAO official: Weak currency, weary economy cause upheaval for Lebanon

BEIRUT — The weak status of the Lebanese pound and a weary economy had caused upheaval in Lebanon, leading the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to categories the Arab country as a "hotspot" in a recent report due to the deteriorating food situation. Speaking on the situation Lebanon, FAO Representative in Lebanon Maurice Saade told KUNA in an interview that Lebanon has been categorized as hotspot country due to the deteriorating food situation in Lebanon as part of a global UN report food crisis. Saade added that such categorization was also due to the elimination of food support to main items. Saade noted "Lebanon imports around 80 percent of its food, and is in need of hard currency for such imports that is no longer available." This made the situation "quickly deteriorate due to the country's economic crisis, inflation, and the instability to prices of the local currency against the US dollar." The FAO official said, some "50 percent of the Lebanese people are unable to acquire all of their food needs," adding that this was as result of the deteriorating purchasing power to Lebanese citizens, and the increase of unemployment rates, which directly affected Lebanon middle class. Saade also