Food Assistance in Times of Crises
Online via Webex
As Lebanon faces increased displacement and severe food insecurity due to ongoing conflicts, vulnerable groups—particularly young children and pregnant and lactating women—are at heightened risk of malnutrition and illness.
The Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the School of Arts and Sciences invites you to the seminar which will explore essential nutrition interventions in emergencies, focusing on food assistance initiatives and the collaborative efforts of local and international actors to secure food resources. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to support internally displaced persons and the broader affected population. Additionally, insights from the Lebanese Association for Co-existence and Development (LACODE) will highlight its expanded operations, delivering over 7,500 daily meals in the Bekaa region despite supply chain, security, and funding challenges. LACODE’s community-driven, apolitical, and areligious approach demonstrates resilience, adaptability, and the impact of grassroots solidarity in delivering humanitarian aid during crises
Speakers
- Elsie Abou Diwan is a public health professional with a BS in Nutrition, an MS in Nutrition and Public Health, and a professional diploma in Health and Nutrition in Emergencies from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Since 2013, she has been actively engaged in the humanitarian sector, focusing on health and nutrition programs across Lebanon and internationally, including in Sudan, Zimbabwe, and through global consultancies with the Emergency Nutrition Network and UNICEF. She currently acts as the Senior Specialist for Community Health at the International Medical Corps’ Lebanon mission, while also teaching a course on sustainable food systems at the Lebanese American University.
- Dr. Hussein Hassan is the director of Academic Compliance at the Provost’s Office and a professor of food Science and technology in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the Lebanese American University. He holds a BSc and MSc in Food Technology AUB and a PhD in Food Process Engineering from McGill University, Canada. Dr. Hassan has authored over 75 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals and has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including LAU’s Research Excellence Award, Teaching Excellence Award, and Distinguished Service Award. He also serves as a senior food safety and processing expert with various local and international organizations.