Lebanon Faces Alarming Poverty Crisis: Call for Universal Social Security

Lebanon is grappling with a severe poverty crisis, with over 70% of the population experiencing multidimensional poverty, according to a new World Bank report. This situation underscores the inadequacy of the current means-tested social security programs, which only cover about one-fifth of the population. Urgent structural reforms are needed as the government has only recently begun to take steps toward establishing a universal social security system.

The World Bank’s May 2024 report, “Lebanon Poverty and Equity Assessment 2024,” reveals that 73% of Lebanese residents, including nearly all non-Lebanese individuals, primarily Syrians, live in multidimensional poverty, Human Rights Watch revealed in an article published on August 8.

It added that monetary poverty has surged, affecting 44% of the population, with regions like northern Lebanon and areas with high Syrian refugee populations seeing 90% living below the poverty line.

Lebanon’s social security framework, initiated through the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP) and supplemented by the Emergency Crisis and Covid-19 Response Social Safety Net Project (ESSN), has been criticized for its reliance on proxy-means testing. This method, which assesses over 40 indicators to determine eligibility, has been deemed ineffective and discriminatory by experts and human rights organizations.

While the government has made strides since 2023—such as launching the National Disability Allowance program and adopting Law 319 for a contributory pension scheme—these efforts fall short of addressing the widespread need for universal coverage. The World Bank continues to advocate for means-tested programs, despite calls for a more inclusive approach to social security.

The ongoing economic crisis, one of the most severe globally, has deepened inequalities and highlighted the government’s failure to uphold human rights obligations. As the crisis persists, the call for universal social security becomes increasingly urgent. Civil society organizations urge the World Bank and international donors to shift their focus from narrow means-tested programs to support universal initiatives, ensuring that all individuals have access to essential resources. Without significant reform, Lebanon’s poverty and human rights crisis will likely worsen.