Beirut 1915: The Great Famine That Killed a Third of Mount Lebanon

In 1915, as World War I raged across Europe, a quieter catastrophe unfolded in the mountains of Ottoman Lebanon. A combined blockade by Allied navies and the Ottoman Empire, locust swarms, and systemic corruption created a famine that killed an estimated 200,000 people — roughly one-third of Mount Lebanon's population. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the war turned Lebanon's breadbasket into a graveyard. They examine the role of Jamal Pasha, the Ottoman governor who weaponized food supplies against rebellious Christian communities; the Allied naval blockade that inadvertently tightened the screws; and the heroic efforts of figures like the American missionary William S. Buckler and the Syrian Relief Committee. They also discuss how the famine reshaped Lebanese identity, fueling emigration waves and deepening sectarian suspicions that would echo into the civil war decades later. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, diplomatic cables, and recent historical scholarship, this episode uncovers a tragedy that remains overshadowed by the war in Europe but is essential to understanding modern Lebanon.

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