Hani Bahsali, the president of the Food Importers Syndicate, affirmed in a statement that "the food situation in Lebanon has not improved over the past two months; rather, it has worsened due to the war in Ukraine and the turmoil in global markets, as well as the return of the dollar exchange rate to rise in the local market, in addition to the difficulties faced by the Central Bank of Lebanon in financing essential consumer goods such as wheat and gasoline." He confirmed that there are no risks of food shortages, especially since food importers have the capability and flexibility to find alternatives for many food items in various global markets. However, he warned that unforeseen circumstances are increasingly pressing on the food security of the Lebanese people, particularly the continuous rise in the dollar exchange rate, which inevitably leads to a decrease in the purchasing power of the national currency and consequently an increase in the prices of all goods, including food items.
In this regard, Bahsali stressed that there is an immediate need for political forces to find radical solutions to the economic crisis before it is too late, expressing deep concern that if the situation continues to develop negatively, especially with regard to the dollar exchange rate, a large segment of the Lebanese population may not be able to obtain their full needs for food, medicine, healthcare services, and other essentials.
Bahsali emphasized that "the biggest challenge today is not securing food products, but rather the ability of citizens to pay for them, especially after the dollar exchange rate approached 34,000 pounds and the purchasing power of citizens has severely declined." He noted the decrease in food imports from abroad, attributing it to a decline in consumption, which clearly indicates severe hardship on both living and life levels.
He concluded his statement by urging all MPs, without exception, to assume their national responsibilities and unite to address the economic reality, giving priority to the economic file.
