BEIRUT, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) will increase its food rations distributed to the Lebanese amid deteriorating food insecurity in the country, Abdallah Al-Wardat, the country director and representative of WFP in Lebanon, said on Sunday.

       "We are in a very difficult situation and the rate of food insecurity is on the rise. We are providing the Lebanese with financial aid and will increase food rations for the population," local TV channel MTV quoted al-Wadat as saying.

       He noted that Lebanon does not have any wheat reserves as the country imports 85 percent of its wheat from Ukraine, adding that the country is currently looking for alternative sources to buy this commodity.

       According to WFP, around 2.1 million Lebanese and 1.3 million Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon suffer from high levels of poverty and food insecurity and need assistance.