The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed continued support from the Government of the Republic of Korea to vulnerable communities in Lebanon through school meals and in-kind food assistance. On 25 February 2026, H.E. Mr. Gyusuk Geon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Lebanon, visited WFP-supported activities in South Lebanon, emphasizing Korea’s commitment to food security and to aiding communities affected by Lebanon’s prolonged economic crisis and recent conflicts.
In Habboush, a town in southern Lebanon, the delegation visited Habboush Primary Public School, one of 325 public schools nationwide supported by WFP under the national school meals programme, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Since 2016, this programme has provided nutritious meals to vulnerable Lebanese and refugee children, improving dietary diversity, school attendance, and concentration. The school serves 930 students and operates a cold kitchen model, with 13 volunteer mothers preparing fresh meals daily using locally sourced ingredients. Ninety-two percent of these ingredients are procured through WFP’s “from farm to school” approach, supporting small retailers and agribusinesses across Lebanon.
Last month alone, WFP’s national school feeding programme reached 116,000 Lebanese and Syrian refugee students in public primary schools, providing nutritious snacks and fresh sandwiches prepared in 51 school kitchens across the country. The programme not only ensures children receive adequate nutrition but also supports local agriculture and employment.
The delegation also visited an in-kind food distribution site in Nabatieh, where vulnerable families receive monthly food baskets covering roughly 60 percent of household food needs. In the context of declining purchasing power following Lebanon’s 2019 financial crisis, in-kind food assistance remains a crucial lifeline. Last month, WFP reached 49,000 Lebanese people with 646 metric tons of food, including rice donated by the Republic of Korea. Through its Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Korea contributed 864 metric tons of rice—valued at over USD 1 million—to WFP Lebanon in November 2025. During the visit, 504 households in Nabatieh were scheduled to receive food parcels including 2,277 kilograms of Korean rice.
Anne Valand, WFP Representative and Country Director ad interim in Lebanon, highlighted that Korea’s support helps children stay focused in school while ensuring families can meet basic food needs with dignity. Ambassador Geon emphasized that the rice donation reflects Korea’s SHINE Initiative, demonstrating solidarity and partnership with the Middle East and contributing to regional stability and prosperity.
Looking ahead to 2027, WFP plans to further strengthen its partnership with the Republic of Korea, including potential new rice contributions and a joint South–South and Triangular Cooperation initiative with the Yemen Country Office, aiming to reach the most vulnerable populations across Lebanon.
