Nation rediscovers deadly famine

Lebanon is rediscovering a century-old tragedy that most had forgotten - a devastating famine, caused by blockades and a locust infestation, that killed a third of its population.

From 1915 to 1918, in the midst of World War I and before modern-day Lebanon existed, between 150,000 and 200,000 people died of malnutrition and disease, according to estimates by historians.

The famine "was the biggest catastrophe in the history of Lebanon. Even the civil war (of 1975-1990) did not reach this magnitude", historian Youssef Mouawad said.