Introduction:
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Lebanon is experiencing its worst drought on record, driven by a 50% year-on-year drop in rainfall between November 2024 and May 2025. Combined with low snow melt, this has depleted the natural springs and wells that provide 83% of Lebanon’s annual water consumption, leaving households and the agricultural sector facing severe water scarcity. The crisis is made worse by the annual loss of 30% to 50% of the country’s water reserves through evapotranspiration4 and other factors.
This flash report focuses on access to water in the governorates of Baalbek-Hermel and Bekaa – two regions that were among the hardest-hit by the drought. It complements an earlier LCAT publication that examined how drought has affected the public sector, agriculture, and households, as well as the government’s responses to water shortages. By focusing on a specific region of Lebanon, we aim to offer a more granular view of perceptions of drought and water shortages – using feedback and information from households and water distributors – in a bid to better inform development and humanitarian responses.
By Crisis Analytics Team, Mercy Corps Lebanon
