Security concerns: Increased demand for essential goods in Lebanon

Day by day, the demand for purchasing essential goods and commodities, especially food, is increasing as people rush to stock up amidst the rising security concerns in the South and Gaza.

Many citizens are constantly inquiring about the possibility of the war expanding to include Lebanon. 

This article was originally published in and translated from the Lebanese newspaper Nidaa al-Watan.

Amid confusion and fear, people are taking precautions wherever possible. The director of a shopping center told "Nidaa Al-Watan" that "this phenomenon has increased with the expansion of events in the southern regions of Lebanon, starting about a week ago."

On Tuesday, the Economy and Trade Minister, Amin Salam, held a meeting with the unions of mill owners, meat producers, importers, and oil derivative manufacturers. He emphasized that measures are being taken to increase stocks in all sectors as a precaution for the worst-case scenario.

In a press conference addressing the issue of food security, he said, "There is a decision to facilitate and expedite imports so that we have a larger strategic stock of wheat and flour. The ministry also has a mechanism to facilitate the redistribution of quantities between the regions, from the South to the North, Mount Lebanon, and Beirut, very quickly."

He added, "We have a program that can identify the destination of wheat and flour in the regions and redistribute it according to the need."

However, he expressed concerns about "the exacerbation of risks if a naval siege is imposed on us, so we are taking proactive steps to stockpile goods in the regions."

The union of food importers called on the relevant ministries and departments to "take exceptional and rapid measures to expedite the clearance of imported foodstuffs at Beirut port and deliver them to their owners for storage away from any risks, given the exceptional and critical circumstances that Lebanon is going through, and to preserve the food security of the Lebanese people."

What is required is full coordination and cooperation between all these bodies to create an emergency plan for the removal and rapid transport of goods to warehouses.

In the meantime, the Oil Sector Management Authority held a meeting at the Energy Ministry with a delegation from fuel import companies, and it was agreed to allocate a quantity of diesel to government and private hospitals, as well as water utilities and the communications and bakery sectors.