Minister of Economy and Trade in the caretaker government, Amin Salam, confirmed that there is no bread crisis in Lebanon during a press conference, addressing reports from some newspapers about a decision to halt support. Salam stated that his ministry "has worked with full integrity and transparency to protect people's bread and the price of a loaf in these difficult circumstances, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of wheat despite extremely challenging and impossible conditions." He added, "Despite the lack of a strategic wheat reserve in Lebanon, the Ministry of Economy has not allowed a disruption in wheat supplies, even amidst the war in Ukraine. There has not been a single day's shortage of bread for the people. Even when prices fluctuated, we secured a loan from the World Bank out of our concern for the Lebanese people's sustenance."
He further explained, "This loan is what ensures the arrival of wheat supplies to Lebanon and maintains the price of bread, which is among the cheapest in the entire Middle East according to all studies conducted." Salam emphasized the importance of maintaining the efforts made by his ministry as "living conditions are heading towards more difficult times, and we must preserve the price of bread and its availability."
He criticized "the rhetoric of some regarding the absence of the Minister of Economy and their claims of a bread crisis," considering them "crisis merchants and thieves of people's livelihoods." He said, "Instead of reassuring people, they come out with false news and fabrications about a bread crisis and the minister's intention to lift support and that the price of bread will exceed 100,000 Lira. All of this is misleading lies and incorrect information."
He mentioned his recent visit to Washington to meet with the World Bank "to discuss upcoming stages with them, starting from the social conditions of the country and food and health security, along with urgent matters that should be provided to citizens and the neediest classes to support them in the coming years." He stressed that "there is no bread crisis in Lebanon, but a delay in the arrival of some ships due to the Ukrainian-Russian crisis, resulting from delays occurring at Russian ports due to the hold-up of vessels coming from Ukraine through the Black Sea to Lebanon." He clarified that "due to the lack of silos and a strategic reserve in Lebanon, ships arrive on a weekly basis."
He concluded by criticizing "some reactions from certain individuals within Lebanon regarding the issue of rebuilding the silos," expressing surprise at "the lack of support for this matter," stressing the "importance of having silos in all Lebanese ports."
