Food and nutrition security status of Syrian refugees and their host communities in Lebanon : the case of Akkar -

Abstract

Background: Lebanon, being a small income country that is known to have wide economic disparities within its regions, is among the countries that face some obstacles in achieving food security. Akkar is one of the most vulnerable areas in this country that carries the burden of hosting high numbers of Syrian refugees following the recent Syrian crisis. Data regarding the food and nutrition security status, coping strategies, and nutritional status of Syrian refugee as well as Lebanese communities in this area are scarce. Objectives: To assess and compare the food security status, coping mechanisms, and dietary diversity of Syrian refugee and Lebanese households from low and high Syrian refugee load villages, as well as to assess the dietary adequacy and nutritional status of mothers and children from recruited households. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of of a convenient sample of 324 Syrian refugee and Lebanese host community households from low and high Syrian refugee load villages in Akkar, North of Lebanon. Mother-child pair from each household (children between 4 to 10 years), whose consent and assent were secured and who were either both Syrian refugees or both Lebanese, were interviewed using a multi-component questionnaire collecting data about the households’ socio-economic status, food security status, coping mechanisms, and dietary adequacy and diversity. In addition, anthropometric measurements were collected to assess the nutritional status of mothers and children. Results: High levels of food insecurity were observed in Akkar with Syrian refugee households being the most food insecure (92.5percent). In addition. Lebanese households from high Syrian refugee load villages were more food insecure than Lebanese households from low Syrian refugee load villages (55.2percent vs 39.8percent, respectively). The use of coping strategies to adjust for food insecurity was also high among all communities (61percent of Lebanese households vs 100percent of Syrian refugee households). Severe and long-term coping strategies w