Hani Bihsali, the head of the Food Importers Syndicate, issued a statement expressing his "deep regret over the continuous rises in the exchange rate of the dollar against the Lebanese pound, which will lead to further economic, living, and life consequences." He described the dollar reaching the threshold of 55,000 pounds as a "catastrophe," stating that this will have negative implications primarily on citizens' livelihoods and on institutions and markets. Bihsali warned that "the food security of Lebanese people is on the verge of collapse, as a wide segment of them is unable to obtain all their needs for goods and food products due to price hikes resulting from the rise in dollar value."
He said: "If a recent study by the United Nations indicated that one and a half million Lebanese are at risk of losing food, this number is likely to increase steadily, given the rapid collapse of the national currency." He called on officials to "act quickly in two directions: first, to elect a president for the republic and form a government to immediately begin implementing reforms and agree with the International Monetary Fund to set the country on the path to recovery and revival. Second, to immediately proceed with the financial card and distribute it to various needy groups to prevent the collapse of food security and avoid a social explosion."
He concluded: "All that we currently see of measures and decisions to prevent the worsening of the crisis has become ineffective, and in fact, has counterproductive effects. Therefore, the authority has no choice but to make radical and comprehensive decisions."
