BRATISLAVA, Nov 10 (IPS) – Food security and livelihoods in southern Lebanon are under serious threat as the impact of Israeli bombing continues to be felt across the region, a report published today (November 10) warns.
Nearly a year after a ceasefire was agreed, many farmers in southern Lebanon are still denied access to their land due to displacement, continued Israeli attacks and soil contamination, according to a joint report by Action Against Hunger, Oxfam and Insecurity Insight.
The consequences of the war, combined with regular Israeli attacks and occupation, have wiped out agricultural land and destroyed crops and essential food infrastructure, endangering food security and livelihoods in some of the country’s most fertile and productive areas, the report said.
“Food insecurity is a major problem in Lebanon, affecting around a fifth of the population. This report shows how damage and displacement are devastating production in some of the most fertile lands. As winter approaches, more and more families are facing hunger and poverty,” said Suzanne Takkenberg, country director of Action Against Hunger.
The report, “We Have Lost Everything: The Impact of Conflict on Farmers and Food Security in Lebanon” exposes the consequences of repeated and persistent attacks by Israeli forces on Lebanese farmland and food production.
It highlights the continued disruption of the agricultural sector and damage to the rural economy, as seeds, fuel and other items needed for planting and harvesting, such as fertilizer and fuel, feed, workers and equipment, have become harder to obtain, while damaged roads sometimes make the transport of goods impossible.
Displacement and the continued lack of access to land are among the biggest problems farmers face.
Nearly half of the farmers interviewed for the report were internally displaced and nearly a year after the ceasefire was agreed, some 82,000 people are still unable to return home due to the ongoing Israeli occupation and armed violence.
The continued presence of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, despite a February 2025 deadline for their withdrawal, also prevents people from accessing land for farming.
“Agricultural losses are not just caused by shelling or fires. When farmers cannot reach their land due to displacement or military presence, the outcome is the same: fields are left unplanted and food disappears,” said Christina Wille, director of Insecurity Insight.
Credit: Map: Insecurity Insight. Base map: UN OCHA
But farmers have also complained about another serious effect of the bombing: contamination with explosive remnants of war (ERW) and white phosphorus.
White phosphorus can have damaging effects on soil fertility and plant growth, affecting farmers’ ability to grow and harvest crops – with a knock-on effect on food security.
“ERW also poses a serious risk because not only can these weapons deteriorate over time and contaminate water and soil, but they can also cause serious injury and even death if unexploded ordnance detonates unexpectedly,” Wille explains.
“Explosive contamination freezes life. It keeps people displaced, fields bare and entire communities in limbo. Farmers told us the war destroyed not only their crops, but also their confidence. Food security is not just about seeds and soil. It is also about whether people feel safe enough to work the land,” she added.
The scale of losses suffered by farmers since the start of the conflict is enormous.
“Our findings show that about 90% of farmers we interviewed have seen their food production decline since October 2023. That’s a systemic collapse, not a seasonal shock,” said Drew East, researcher at Insecurity Insight.
Food production has completely stopped for several farmers in Khiam, Bodai, Saaideh, Baalbek and Aitaroun, depriving them of their main sources of income.
Meanwhile, farmers in the areas of southern Lebanon and Bekaa, which have experienced some of the worst incidents of conflict, have lost not only land but also homes, livestock and agricultural assets.
But it is not just the farmers’ livelihoods that have been ruined.
“Some farmers have lost everything and this will have devastating consequences not only for them and their families, but also for the communities they help feed,” Wille said.
The continued threat of violence and the levels of destruction seen during the conflict have also had a profound impact on the physical and psychological well-being of affected communities, according to the report.
“Farmers across Lebanon are already in crisis as historically low rainfall has led to the worst drought on record. This climate stress is exacerbated by the ongoing impacts of the conflict, including land contamination, limited access and disruption to supply chains. Urgent action is needed to restore hope to farmers and communities that depend on them,” Takkenberg said.
Farmers also warned of the need for urgent assistance to address worsening hunger and poverty among communities.
Experts believe that the affected farmers will not be able to fully recover until the ceasefire agreed a year ago is fully respected.
“The repeated attacks on agricultural land in southern Lebanon and Bekaa are not only destroying livelihoods but also undermining Lebanon’s food security. There must be an immediate end to these violations and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces so that farmers can safely return to their land and rebuild their lives,” said Oxfam in Lebanon Country Director Bachir Ayoub.
“Three key elements that farmers have identified that would allow them to end the negative cycle facing southern Lebanon and fully resume food production are financial support, a complete cessation of hostilities and the reclamation of ERW-contaminated lands,” Wille said.
The report comes just months after the same groups warned that at least 150,000 people in southern Lebanon were left without running water after Israeli attacks since the start of the conflict damaged and destroyed parts of water purification and hygiene (WASH) facilities.
A report details how repeated attacks on Lebanese water infrastructure between October 2023 and April 2025 had led to long-term disruption of freshwater supplies and caused losses estimated at US$171 million in the water, wastewater and irrigation sectors.
Meanwhile, a severe shortage of rainfall had exacerbated the problem, increasing the risk of outbreaks of water-borne diseases.
In the latest report, the authors point out that all parties to the conflict have clear obligations under International Humanitarian Law to protect objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, including foodstuffs, agricultural areas, crops and livestock.
And they have called for urgent action to push for more humanitarian and development material support and financing to help resolve the situation, and have stressed the need for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory as part of the ceasefire.
“The most urgent call may be to help people return home and to work safely and tackle food insecurity as quickly as possible,” Wille said.
“This is not the conflict of last year. The report tells the story of communities not only struggling to recover, but also under constant attack – as we have seen most intensely in recent days,” Takkenberg said.
“Our teams are operating in this highly volatile environment to support those in need – by rebuilding greenhouses, repairing roads, distributing cash and providing essential agricultural inputs. Together with local authorities and communities, we are doing what we can to restore livelihoods and create space for renewal. But ultimately this will not be possible until there is lasting peace,” she added.
IPS UN office report
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