Lebanon has been in a state of emergency since late 2019, beset by the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic crisis, and political and social upheaval. On August 4, 2020, a devastating explosion shook Beirut, killing more than 200 people and injuring thousands more. One year later, people are in increasing need of humanitarian aid. Half of Lebanon’s people live in extreme poverty, with many barely able to afford food or medicine.
Fawziyya Al-Sahili is one of them. She stands in her kitchen in northeastern Lebanon, stirring a vegetable stew. “My neighbors brought me this meal yesterday, otherwise we wouldn't have any fresh vegetables,” she says. “We haven't eaten meat for a year. With my son’s salary we can only afford bread, beans, and lentils. That's the way it is now.”