The Lebanese government’s emergency system, a modest technology by global standards, is scrambling to cope with one of the country’s worst humanitarian crises. Minister Kamal Shehadi admits they were not ready for such magnitude.

With nearly 1.3 million people displaced in just days, Lebanon’s database tracking food packages and hygiene kits has become its most functional piece of government software. Despite the chaos, the system is providing a semblance of order, tracking every single food package delivered to shelters.

The platform's success lies in its ability to monitor shelter needs, distribute aid swiftly, and ensure transparency, but it also highlights Lebanon’s lack of underlying digital infrastructure. Without a national digital identity or payment system, the current setup is a workaround that should have been more robust.

Shehadi emphasizes the importance of such systems, stating that they would have significantly eased distribution and verification processes. The gap in infrastructure underscores the need for comprehensive digital transformation strategies, not just in Lebanon but globally.