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Food security in Lebanon: Difficulties in meeting basic needs, malnutrition on the rise

21-10-2020

In a study released last August and entitled “Is food security in Lebanon under threat?’, ESCWA said the country relies heavily on food imports to meet the needs of its population. It warned that half of the people of Lebanon are at risk of not having access to basic food needs by the end of 2020 in the wake of the devastating Beirut Port blast. This, the report showed, is combined with the collapse of the value of the local currency (by 78%), the lockdown enforced by the coronavirus and the sharp surge in the rates of poverty and unemployment. In the details, the study pointed to the depreciating value and the inflation in the rate of the lira which reached more than 50% in 2020 compared with 2.9% in 2019. In July 2020, the average price of food products increased by 141% compared with July of 2019, the study said, anticipating a further rise due to increased costs of imports after the Port’s explosion and the lack of trust in the governance of food availability, which could induce panic buying. In conclusion, the ESCWA report warned of a cost increase of agricultural production by more than 50% for various agricultural systems, which could reduce the national agricultural output in the immediate term. (More on the study on the following link: https://bit.ly/2HmLrGm). In a related development, FAO representative in Lebanon, Maurice Saadeh, revealed to An Nahar that the high prices of food items and the sharp decline in income could undermine the overall purchasing power of the population of Lebanon. This will prompt many households to cut their purchases of food products, either through consuming less food or buying cheaper and lower quality foodstuffs in terms of nutritional value, Saadeh noted, expecting a sharp rise in malnutrition cases in the country, specifically among the poor. (Al Akhbar, An Nahar, October 14, 16, 2020)
 

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Agriculture in Lebanon between official’s helplessness and civic initiatives

20-10-2020

The caretaker minister of agriculture, Abbas Mortada, deplored the weak resources of his ministry, blaming this on what he called a systematic and persistent neglect of agriculture, stressing the need to develop legislations that sustain the sector. On his part, Hizbullah MP, Hussein Jishi, during his tour of the ‘Khayrat Jabal Amel’ farmer’s market in the town of Abbasiyeh, Tyre, called on concerned parties to act responsibly, in terms of creating jobs and protecting farmers. Recalling, that the said market is organized every Saturday all year round in collaboration with the Regional Cooperative Union in South Lebanon and the Good Tree Association. The said event showcases all kinds of fruits, veggies, grains and food items, in addition to the traditional mooneh, honey, cheeses, dairy products and handcrafts. In a related vein, Jihad Al Binaa Development Association, jointly with the Municipal Work Directorate-Hizbullah and Agricultural Development Committee in South Lebanon, launched last week the third phase of ‘Al Hakura’ project for family agricultural production. The initiative, to note, aims to boost the steadfastness of farmers through supplying a group of owners of small vegetation gardens a share of the winter agricultural seeds of legumes and vegetables, covering Saida and the environs, Azza, Kanarit, Zeta, Ankoun and Houmin al Tahta. On the other hand, the Youth Pastoral Committee in the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli, North Lebanon, and Caritas Lebanon Youth, organized for the third consecutive week the agricultural project activities in support of the youth of Akkar within the parish lands in the outskirts of Qobiyyat. More than 30 jobs in agriculture were created for the young people in the area, while the produce from the land is sold at reasonable prices to help vulnerable households. (Al Diyar, October 18, 19, 2020)
 

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30,000 breast cancer patients at risk because of shortage of medications

20-10-2020

The head of the Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundation (LBCF), Dr. Naji Saghir, disclosed in a statement yesterday that the foundation and all oncologists in the country are receiving calls from patients who are concerned about the shortage of Tamoxifen. The latter, the statement said, is one of the drugs on the WHO’s list of essential medicines which is given to breast cancer patients to reduce the probability of its recurrence, and is also prescribed in hormone therapy. Dr. Saghir revealed that Lebanon witnesses around 2500 new breast cancer cases every year, noting that the overall number of cases exceeded 40,000.  70% of the patients who have estrogen receptors on breast cancer cells are in need of Tamoxifen and Anastrozole or Letrozole for five or ten years, Saghir explained, warning that the shortage in these anti-cancer medications puts the lives of more than 30,000 patients at risk. He finally appealed to the authorities, drug and pharmaceutical importers and the Order of Pharmacists to work to secure the relatively cheap medicine. (Al Diyar, October 20, 2020)
 

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Only 26% of women in Lebanon participate in labor market

19-10-2020

The World Bank released a report entitled, ‘Women’s Economic Participation in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon’. The report, which is the result of an initiative between WB and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in collaboration with the governments of Canada and Norway, comes as part of a facility that provides technical assistance to the countries covered by the report, with the aim to boost women’s economic empowerment and prospects. On the Lebanese front, the report saw that women’s economic participation reached 26.3%, placing Lebanon in the 17th position among MENA countries (above Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and outside the region (India and Pakistan). Younger women, the report said, have a higher participation rate than women aged above 45, with women aged between 15 and 44 being twice as likely to participate in the labor market as compared to women aged between 45 and 64. The report also indicated that two-thirds of Lebanese women with higher levels of education are either employed or are seeking jobs, noting that this group makes nearly 31% of the total female population of Lebanon. Working Lebanese women, the report stated, tend to engage in less productive jobs, with over two-thirds working in the services sector (particularly, the public sector and domestic employment). The report also mentioned that Lebanese women tend to take lower paying jobs on a fixed contract basis, adding that they are less likely to reach management or senior positions. On the female workforce in the MENA region, the WB report found that increasing female economic participation to the same levels of men could increases the GDP in the region by 47%, noting that the latter has recorded the lowest Female Labor Force Participation in the world (21%). (The report can be found on the following link: https://bit.ly/3of4EdY). (Al Diyar, October 19, 2020)

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Sayed Fadlallah and Amal unwarrantedly denounced ban of veiled nurses

19-10-2020

News about the banning of veiled nurses studying at LAU from training at Mount Lebanon Hospital has sparked wide controversy on social media on Friday. Sayyid Ali Fadlallah described the measure as racist and harming the image of Lebanon and threatening co-existence and national unity. He appealed to the authorities to condemn and withdraw the measure. At the same time, Amal Movement-Health Office denounced what it termed as an irresponsible act, calling on concerned departments at the ministries of education and health to take the appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of similar fanatical decisions. In turn, Mount Lebanon Hospital Administration categorically denied such accusations considering them as void and contemptible, reminding of the history of the prestigious health care institution. It made clear that the hospital never discriminated between doctors, nurses and administrative staff, stressing that its doors have always been and will remain open to diverse skills and capacities. The statement said that it is sad to engage the name of the hospital in unwanted disputes at this difficult time of the nation. For his part, the minister of health in the caretaker government, Hamad Hassan, disclosed in a tweet that all that’s been said about the hospital refusing veiled nurses is inaccurate. (Al Diyar, October 18, 2020)

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Order of Malta to support small farmers country wide, German Agency to help farmers in North Lebanon

16-10-2020

In partnership with Foundation Saradar, the Order of Malta launched on October 7 an agro project under the slogan, “Healthy, We Grow”. The initiative involves the provision of 1.2 million seedlings of winter crops to around 350 small farmers in a number of regions where the primary health care centers of the Order of Malta are active. These include, namely, Khaldiyeh in Zgharta, Qobayat, Ras Baalbaq, Barqa, Deir el Ahmar in Northern Beqaa and Yaroun in South Lebanon. The project seeks to empower local communities and households by supporting the agricultural sector. The initiative helps small farmers in order to strengthen their steadfastness to their land by coaching them to adopt modern agricultural methods. The importance of the project lies in each beneficiary donating about 5% of their produce to be distributed among the most vulnerable groups, who, in turn, benefit from the Order of Malta’s health care services. On the other hand, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli and the North, Toufiq Daboosi, discussed on October 8, with a delegation of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), ways to develop agriculture in North Lebanon. Talks also centered on improving agricultural produce, especially apples, olives as well as milk and dairy products, in cooperation with and integration between GIZ, the Chamber and the University of Balamand. (Al Diyar, October 9, 2020)

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IUCN and Lebanon ink agreement to develop fisheries

16-10-2020

The caretaker minister of agriculture, Abbas Mortada, said Lebanon’s coastal cities have long relied on fishing as a main source of food, which contributed in part to food security. He disclosed that his ministry’s strategy includes a road map involving the development of marine fisheries and fish farming. Mortada was speaking during the signing of an agreement between the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the ministry of agriculture aimed to provide technical assistance for sustainable and responsible fisheries for the proper investment of marine wealth resources. During the signing event, a number of the activities were mentioned to be implemented in collaboration with the IUCN. These include: organizing training courses on the management of fisheries; updating a list of commercially important fish species while specifying the total allowable catch and finally, enforcing regulations concerning the closed fishing seasons. (Al Diyar, October 15, 2020)

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Syria to provide facilities for Lebanese exporters

15-10-2020

President Michel Aoun yesterday received the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdel Kareem, to discuss bi-lateral relations and the latest regional developments. Abdel Kareem disclosed after the meeting that talks centered on the importance of integration between the two neighboring states, stressing that the economic connection between both countries is one by virtue of geography and brotherly relations. He said the economic turmoil in Lebanon concerns Syria, especially that the latter is the bridge that connects Lebanon to the Arab Gulf and Iraq. This, the ambassador said, prompts a smooth access of the Lebanese products in order to boost national economy. On the other hand, a number of Beqaa farmers complained about recurrent smuggling of Syrian agricultural goods into the Lebanese markets, particularly the farmers’ market in Qob Elias, with tons of Syrian tomato, cabbage, cauliflower and potato flooding local markets. Protestors threatened to block roads and close down the farmers’ markets to protect their livelihoods. (Al Diyar, October, 13, 15, 2020)

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Electronic platform to link manufacturers and students

15-10-2020

In collaboration with the ministry of administrative development and the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA), the industry ministry yesterday launched the electronic platform (uicp.industry.gov.lb). Funded by the EU and implemented by the British-based firm Crown Agents, the initiative brings together industrialists, universities, vocational education institutions and students. It seeks to network higher education institutions and manufacturers on the one hand, and to connect students and trainees with the platform, on the other. Recalling, that the ministry of industry is the main broker which monitors and supervises in order to ensure the precision of the registered data. On the occasion, the caretaker minister of industry, Imad Hoballah, said the main purpose of the platform is to pull together talents and aptitudes in various disciplines, primarily in research, in addition to providing training and jobs for students. (Al Diyar, October 15, 2020)

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Four women bridge Nobel Prize gender disparity

14-10-2020

An Nahar today published a survey prepared by AFP on Nobel Prizes in which it drew attention to women’s modest share in the awards. Four women reportedly won out of eleven winners of the 2020 Nobel Prize and they are: Emmanuelle Charpentier (Chemistry, from France), Jennifer Doudna (Chemistry, USA), Andrea Ghez (Physics, USA) and American Louise Gluck won the Nobel Prize in Literature. This represents nearly 36.4% of total winners, which is better than past years, AFP said, adding that this year which saw 3 prizewinning women in the mainly “male” categories of physics and chemistry, was an achievement. Statistics indicated that since the first edition of the Swedish Nobel Prize in 1901, the Physics category went to four women out of 216 total winners in the field (equivalent to 1.9%), while seven women received the Prize for chemistry out of 186 total winners (3.8%). On female shares since the inception of the award, AFP pointed out that the rate of women winners increased significantly over the past decades, from to 5.4% and 2.6% in 1900 and 1910 respectively, non-existent in the 1950s, to reach 9.2% and 11.1% in 2000 and 2010 respectively, jumping to 36.4% in 2020. (An Nahar, October 14, 2020)

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