Fear of Food Shortages: 1,000 Containers Stuck in the Port

The open strike by public administration employees has disrupted all transactions for exporting and importing foodstuffs in its first week. There has been a partial resolution regarding exports, but the paralysis in import transactions continues, leading to a backlog of containers in the Port of Beirut, with their number reaching one thousand according to Hani Bahsali, head of the food importers syndicate. This situation is accompanied by increased risks of spoilage of goods and rising storage costs, which average "$75 in cash per container," Bahsali tells "Al-Akhbar." This cost increases to "$200 per day for containers that require refrigeration." Bahsali points out that "the goods stuck are products of the summer months. Therefore, there are significant and serious concerns about a shortage of food supplies if the crisis persists, especially as the consumption of goods is witnessing remarkable growth with the increasing number of residents coming from abroad to spend part or all of the summer in Lebanon."