A fragile two-day-old ceasefire has stopped US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. However, it has not calmed Israel’s separate campaign against Iran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.

“What we’re witnessing is not just a displacement crisis; it is rapidly ​becoming a food security crisis,” said the World Food Programme country director. Allison Oman, speaking via video link from Beirut.

She warned that food was becoming increasingly unaffordable. Prices are rising, and demand is growing among displaced families.

The price of vegetables has soared.

The ​price of vegetables has soared by more than 20% and bread prices have increased by 17% since March 2, the WFP said.

“What we’re now seeing is a very worrying combination: prices are rising, ​incomes are disrupted, and demand is increasing as displacement continues for many families,” ​Oman stated.

Lebanon faces a two-layered crisis, in which some markets have fully collapsed - especially in the south, ‌where more than 80% of markets are no longer functioning - while those in Beirut are under increasing strain, Oman said.

Many traders in conflict-affected areas in the southern parts of Lebanon are reporting less than one week of essential food stocks remaining, she added.

The ability ​to deliver food aid ​into hard-to-reach areas, in the south, which has faced heavy bombardment by Israeli airstrikes since March 2, was becoming increasingly difficult.

While the Qasmiyeh bridge, which ​was previously struck, is now operational, movement remains difficult. Ten ​WFP convoys have reached the south to provide aid to some of the estimated 50,000 to 150,000 in need of humanitarian support in that part of the country.

“This escalation is pushing vulnerable communities ​even closer to the edge,” said Oman, adding that, ​due to this latest escalation, about 900,000 people across Lebanon were facing food insecurity - a number that ​was set to rise.