Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/8/lebanese-fearful-as-fuel-and-wheat-shortage-deepens
In recent news the Lebanese people have been hit hard by widespread shortages of fuel and wheat across the company. Many working class families are now putting in all their revenue and now loans, into just buying the essentials. Lebanon has been rocked hard because of the War in Ukraine. Ukraine supplied Lebanon with 90 percent of their wheat and cooking oil. This combined with a 33 percent increase in oil prices has been disatoures for this country. This is all coupled with the Lebanese economic crisis which has devalued their currency almost 90% against the dollar. This is worsened with a projection of only one more month of wheat reserves left and a calculated 1000% increase in food prices. The Lebanon government has been pleading for help from the US and IMF for money and wheat.
My take on this article is that the Russo-Ukrainian war has had ripple effects across the global community. Lebanon has been hit especially hard with its already bad circumstances with their internal depression. This was worsened by massive inflation and shortages of necessities families across the globe are struggling to scrape by every day. As rations try to mitigate the issues people’s morals can only hold out in combination with hoarders as well. With an already weakened government at its knees and near bankruptcy, only time will tell if this nation could hold out. The last thing the international community needs is a failing state because it cant provide its citizens with basic necessities.
This topic relates to class because of how the role of the UN and its subsidiaries could help mitigate and stop a failing state. The United Nations has many members and it has many agencies to uphold important beliefs they believe are important. One organization that could help Lebanon would be the WHO. Most famously known for their medical research and roles in famous cases like ebola. This organization is also in charge of relief and upkeep of population health. If they knew one country was at risk it could allocate resources to that region to aid and support the government. This would also fulfill Un goals 1 no poverty and 2 zero hunger which is happening right now in Lebanon.