Back to Contents The World Food Programme reported in June 2020 about the impact of COVID-19 on employment in Lebanon: “In order to capture the COVID-19 impact on employment status in Lebanon, respondents were asked whether their individual ability to carry out their work activities has been jeopardized as a result of containment measures. […] The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN News) reported in April 2020 about the impacts of COVID-19 on the refugee population in Lebanon: “Refugees say some of the new hardship is due to limitations on refugee movement imposed by local authorities. Although work in food production is technically allowed during the lockdown, many refugees are afraid to leave the camps to work in the fields as they once did. “Here in the camp, the municipality has forbidden anyone to go out,” Assaf said. “Currently, no one has money. At the end of the month, most people don’t have bread,” much less medicine, she added. “There’s no work; it’s absolutely forbidden,” agreed Aisha Ibrahim, who lives in an informal camp in Bar Elias with her husband, mother-in-law, and six children – three of whom have disabilities. Ibrahim said camp residents had been threatened with deportation if they ventured out for anything other than food and medicine. Even before the financial meltdown and before coronavirus, according to a UN assessment published in December 2019, only one third of refugees in Lebanon had regular work, and the vast majority – 96 percent – were in debt. According to UNHCR, it was already extremely difficult for many refugees to get by, and now the pandemic is making it worse. “The situation is having a severe impact on refugees’ access to livelihoods, morale, and ability to meet their basic survival needs like rent, food, and medicine,” Abou Khaled said, “[Much] as it [also] is for vulnerable Lebanese communities.” (Source: The New Humanitarian, “How COVID-19 is limiting healthcare access for refugees in Lebanon”, 21 April 2020)47 Means of subsistence “During the reporting period, Lebanon continued to suffer from multiple crises that affected daily life on every level Increased global prices, namely for wheat, oil and fuel, have resulted in runaway inflation rates (the average annual increase in Lebanon’s consumer price index stood at 215.03 per cent during the first half of 2022 when compared to the same period in 2021) […] Food prices have increased by more than 15 times since October 2019, while people’s purchasing power has significantly decreased and unemployment rates have risen.” (Source: UNRWA, “Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, 2022 Emergency Appeal Progress Report for the reporting period 1 January – 30 June 2022”, 3 November 2022, p. 11) “According to recent UNRWA data [UNRWA, RSSD, Crisis Monitoring Report – high frequency survey results, March 2022] Lebanon’s multi-layered crises have led to increased poverty with 86 per cent of Palestinian families now living below the poverty line and unable to cover their basic needs. This represents a significant increase from the 73 per cent recorded in July 2021.” (Source: UNRWA, “Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, 2022 Emergency Appeal Progress Report for the reporting period 1 January – 30 June 2022”, 3 November 2022, p. 11) 47 Publication date is outside of this reports reference period, however this excerpt was as it contained relevant information on the lockdown impacts. 9. Access to labour market, means of basic subsistence 106