Written by Aoife Sherry, Programmes Intern, World Vision Ireland
Hunger is one of the most urgent and devastating crises of our time. Every day, millions of people wake up unsure of when their next meal will be.
When a household runs out of food, it is children who pay the highest price. Families are often forced into impossible choices, such as pulling their children out of school, marrying off young daughters, or sending children to dangerous jobs simply to survive.
Food insecurity can derail children’s futures. Hunger makes it difficult for children to concentrate and learn, and many drop out of school entirely. Young girls face heightened risks as families struggle to cope.
A Growing Crisis for Refugee Children
In the last decade, the number of people forced to flee their homes has doubled. Conflict, climate shocks, and instability have forced millions to leave their homes in search of safety. Today, 41% of refugees are children, and nearly half of all refugees live in countries already battling food crises, placing enormous strain on fragile host communities.
Refugee families are 1.7 times more likely to face hunger than host communities. Barriers to employment, restrictive policies, and limited access to services leave families dependent on humanitarian aid, which is increasingly stretched thin.
For child refugees, this means living on the edge of survival. Hunger threatens their health, their development, and their chance to build a stable future.
World Vision is working to change that. By ensuring access to nutritious food, we help children reclaim their right to grow, learn, and thrive.
Emergency Food Assistance for Families in Lebanon
In early March, renewed hostilities in Lebanon triggered mass displacement, adding immense pressure to a country already grappling with economic collapse and widespread food insecurity. More than 830,000 people are now displaced within Lebanon.
Humanitarian organisations have mobilised, but the needs far exceed available resources. In 2025, 72% of global humanitarian needs went unmet due to severe funding cuts.
Displaced families in Lebanon rely heavily on external food support. Many shelters lack functioning kitchens, forcing families to depend on community kitchens and humanitarian distributions for their daily meals.
With support from Irish Aid under the Acute Humanitarian Stream programme, World Vision Ireland launched a short-term food assistance initiative to protect families from hunger during this emergency.
Our goal is to reach nearly 7,000 displaced people living in shelters across Mount Lebanon and North Lebanon.
We are supporting three community kitchens, supplying fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen chicken, and other essential ingredients to help feed 6,000 people with hot, nutritious meals. These meals help to restore dignity and reduce the need for families to resort to harmful coping strategies.
For nearly 1,000 additional people, we are distributing ready-to-eat food kits containing canned meats, hummus, beans, Halawa, dates, sugar, and other staples, enough to feed a family of four to five for a full week.
We prioritise those most at risk, like female-headed households, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
This emergency response is not only meeting immediate needs, but also preventing long-term harm.
Helping Today, Safeguarding Tomorrow
Ending hunger is essential for long term stability and prosperity. Yet the world is facing more crises and less funding than ever before. While building self-reliance is critical, families also need urgent support in moments of crisis.
The assistance we are providing in Lebanon, made possible through Irish Aid, is helping families avoid harmful coping mechanisms, such as taking children out of school or sending them to work. By protecting food security today, we are safeguarding children’s health, education, and wellbeing for years to come.
In a time of immense uncertainty, this support is a lifeline. It ensures that children in Lebanon can hold onto hope, dignity, and the chance to build a better future.