Thread by @Aya_Majzoub

Millions of #Lebanon’s residents are at risk of going hungry due to #COVID_19 lockdown measures unless the government urgently puts in place a robust, coordinated plan to provide assistance. Latest from @hrw:
hrw.org/news/2020/04/0…

On April 1, govt announced it would distribute 400,000 LBP ($150) to the poorest families, but offered few details. A week earlier, it had pledged 75 billion LBP ($50,000) for nutrition + sanitary assistance, w/out any details - unclear whether both refer to the same assistance.

But almost a month after the #Lebanon government announced the lockdown, and despite repeated pledges to provide aid, activists providing aid to needy families in #Beirut, #Saida, #Tripoli, and #Zgharta told @hrw that no aid has materialized.

Despite limited resources, the #Lebanon government has an obligation, under international human rights law, to protect people’s right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food and nutrition, the highest attainable standard of health, and social security.

#Lebanon should improve coordination of the #COVID_19 economic response among various ministries + with private sector. It should also clearly communicate its economic relief plans to the public and clarify eligibility, timeline, and procedures.

Correction: 75 billion LBP = 28 million USD at current market rates