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ESCWA Warns That More Than 55% of Lebanon’s Population Is Now Trapped In Poverty
According to estimates revealed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), more than 55% of Lebanon’s population is now trapped in poverty and struggling for bare necessities. The rate has approximately doubled since last year, jumping from 28% to a whopping 55% due to the impact of multiple shocks.
“Extreme poverty has registered a threefold increase from 8% in 2019 to 23% in 2020,” ESCWA warns in an official brief.
The brief also indicates that the total number of poor individuals among the Lebanese population is currently about 2.7 million, taking the upper poverty line as reference (i.e. the number of people living on less than $14 a day).
This shows that a significant erosion of the middle class is now present, with middle-income earners now forming less than 40% of the population. The affluent group has also shrunk to a third of its size, from 15% to 5% of the population over the past year.
These numbers are not just statistics, they represent hundreds of starving families with no source of income, struggling to survive in the absence of any governmental aid.
If you wish to support Lebanon’s most vulnerable population, check out these initiatives.
.@UNESCWA estimates reveal that more than 55% of #Lebanon ‘s population is now trapped in poverty & struggling for bare necessities. Extreme poverty has also registered a threefold increase from 8% in 2019 to 23% in 2020
— UN_Lebanon (@UN_Lebanon) August 20, 2020
Read ESCWA study 👉https://t.co/xEKhUQwoo1 pic.twitter.com/Gd7jcRP1bd
“Extreme poverty has registered a threefold increase from 8% in 2019 to 23% in 2020,” ESCWA warns in an official brief.
The brief also indicates that the total number of poor individuals among the Lebanese population is currently about 2.7 million, taking the upper poverty line as reference (i.e. the number of people living on less than $14 a day).
This shows that a significant erosion of the middle class is now present, with middle-income earners now forming less than 40% of the population. The affluent group has also shrunk to a third of its size, from 15% to 5% of the population over the past year.
These numbers are not just statistics, they represent hundreds of starving families with no source of income, struggling to survive in the absence of any governmental aid.
If you wish to support Lebanon’s most vulnerable population, check out these initiatives.
