Lebanon economy minister urges public against panic buying, says fuel, food supplies 'secure'

Lebanon's economy minister has urged Lebanese citizens not to "panic buy" and to avoid "stockpiling essentials" as Lebanon had enough basic food and fuel supplies for the upcoming few months and supply routes were not threatened.

Amin Salam, Lebanon's caretaker minister for economy and trade made the statements at an emergency meeting on Tuesday bringing together unions in the food supplies, fuels and basic goods sectors.

The meeting was called to discuss an urgent contingency plan as Lebanon reels under deadly and indiscriminate attacks waged by Israel which have been most intensive in the southern part of the country and had killed over 600 people since Monday.

The assault has seen at least 90,000 flee their homes and seek refuge in schools converted into shelters in various parts of the country.

Some Lebanese citizens, including those displaced, have rushed to buy up basic goods as fears of looming shortages and a halt in food and fuel supplies if the war expands spread.

"We have seen a frantic rush by those displaced from the areas under bombardment to Beirut and Mount Lebanon, to buy dozens of packs of bread," said Salam.

"We want to reassure the Lebanese that we have sufficient basic supplies, for producing bread, like wheat and others, and there is no need for panic".

Salam stressed that the issues of food and fuel security were a top priority for the authorities and that they would undertake every effort to avoid an interruption in supplies.

The caretaker minister urged citizens to avoid buying bread and flour in large quantities, adding that there were sufficient quantities to last at least two months, and that "orders were proceeding normally" regarding wheat shipments and those of other basic essentials.

He emphasised that coordination was underway with relevant bodies to ensure that essential goods would continue to be available.

"We are not saying there is a surplus," he added, but that "goods are sufficient for three to four months … there is no emergency in terms of import and export".

Regarding fuel supplies, Salam said he hoped Lebanon would not reach the stage of shortages, and emphasized that unions and importers had reassured the authorities that supply flows were stable for now. A preventative plan was being put in place to avoid shortages, he added.

Salam also touched on planned coordination with UN, UNIFIL and Lebanese security services to ensure areas under Israel's "indiscriminate and brutal" bombardment, south of Sidon, remained supplied with food and fuel, saying "basic supplies and goods can't be cut off from families in the south and other areas witnessing shelling."

The minister also stated that solidarity and national unity were an ethical duty in light of reports that some traders had raised prices to profit from the current crisis, and others had raised rents to the displaced seeking refuge.

Despite some having sought to exploit the situation by profiteering, there were many cases of individual humanitarian initiatives by ordinary Lebanese citizens who sought to offer assistance to the displaced free of charge, whether by distributing bedding, food, blankets and clothes or by families who have opened their homes to those fleeing for safety.

Some observers have raised questions about the crisis-ridden Lebanese economy's capacity to withstand a new war, and the caretaker government's ability to confront the repercussions on Lebanese markets, especially in light of the large waves of displacement.

This article is based on an article which appeared in our Arabic edition by Rita El Jammal on 24 September 2024. To read the original article click here.