Table 1.
Characteristics of the food parcel providers (FPP), beneficiaries receiving food aid and logistics of the food parcel distribution (FPD)
| Variable | Total sample (n 72) | |
|---|---|---|
| n | % | |
| Characteristics of FPP | ||
| FPP type | ||
| International NGO* | 3 | 4·2 |
| Local NGO† | 45 | 62·5 |
| Personal initiatives | 24 | 33·3 |
| Other type of assistance provided by the FPP (more than one apply) | ||
| Medical kits | 19 | 26·4 |
| Hygiene kits | 26 | 36·1 |
| Hot meals | 17 | 23·6 |
| Other assistance‡ | 36 | 50 |
| Initiated FPD | ||
| Before COVID-19 | 46 | 63·9 |
| During COVID-19 | 26 | 36·1 |
| Duration of FPD | ||
| <2 weeks duration | 2 | 2·8 |
| 2 weeks–1 month | 5 | 7 |
| 1–3 months | 7 | 9·7 |
| >3 months | 5 | 6·9 |
| Ongoing | 53 | 73·6 |
| Source of funds for FPD (more than one apply) | ||
| Internal funds | 61 | 85·9 |
| Donors | 38 | 53·5 |
| Fundraising events | 21 | 29·6 |
| Beneficiaries characteristics | ||
| Beneficiary nationality (more than one apply) | ||
| Lebanese | 69 | 95·8 |
| Syrian | 37 | 51·4 |
| Palestinian | 27 | 37·5 |
| Other nationalities§ | 67 | 93·1 |
| Household selection criteria (more than one apply) | ||
| Most needy | 50 | 69·4 |
| Without job | 36 | 50 |
| Without income | 30 | 41·7 |
| Presence of kids or elderly | 21 | 29·2 |
| Sickness | 20 | 27·8 |
| Number of individuals per house | 20 | 27·8 |
| Data list from NGO | 19 | 26·4 |
| Social criteria | 14 | 19·4 |
| Refugee camp | 8 | 11·1 |
| Randomly | 6 | 8·6 |
| Referrals | 2 | 2·8 |
| Type of assistance provided by other sources to beneficiaries | ||
| Food parcel and/or hot meal (from other sources) | 41 | 59·4 |
| Cash/voucher | 6 | 8·7 |
| All of the above | 3 | 4·4 |
| No other sources | 19 | 27·5 |
| Criteria and guidelines adopted by FPP | ||
| Criteria for selection of food items in the parcels (more than one apply) | ||
| Necessities | 36 | 52·2 |
| Price | 28 | 40·6 |
| Quality | 26 | 37·7 |
| Availability of food items | 25 | 36·2 |
| Donations | 22 | 31·9 |
| Guidelines | 21 | 31·3 |
| Nutrition expert | 6 | 8·7 |
| Did FPP follow any nutrition guidelines in the selection of food items in their parcels? | ||
| Yes | 21 | 31·3 |
| No | 46 | 68·7 |
| Did FPP participate in any trainings on FPD? | ||
| Yes | 17 | 23·9 |
| No | 54 | 76·1 |
| Did FPP face any challenges during FPD? | ||
| Yes | 61 | 87·1 |
| No | 9 | 12·9 |
| Type(s) of challenges faced by FPP (more than one apply) | ||
| Logistics | 32 | 46·4 |
| Increased demand | 30 | 42·9 |
| Increased prices | 28 | 40 |
| COVID-19 lockdown | 18 | 25·7 |
| Reaching needy | 14 | 20 |
| Areas not applying COVID-19 safety precautions | 13 | 18·6 |
| Political | 5 | 7·2 |
| Accessibility/location | 3 | 4·3 |
| Donations | 1 | 1·4 |
*
International NGO excluded UN agencies and international partners involved in the distribution of food and humanitarian assistance primarily to Syrian refugees.
†
Local NGO included religious and political groups involved in FPD.
‡
Other assistance includes clothes, cash, house rental, hospitalisation, school/college tuition and vouchers.
§
Other nationalities include families from Iraq, Ethiopia and Bangladesh.