In an interview with RFI, Amin Salam, the Lebanese Minister of the Economy, recognizes that his country is facing a challenge, while until now it imported 80% of its wheat from Ukraine (and around 15% from …

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Ukrainian wheat: Lebanon considers itself "vulnerable in terms of food security"

Amin Salam, the Lebanese Minister of Economy.

AFP - ANWAR AMRO

Text by: Nicolas Falez Follow

3 mins

The UN has classified Lebanon among the "countries at risk", likely to be affected by the food shock wave of the Ukrainian conflict.

In Lebanon, wheat is subsidized, while the country is sinking day after day into a serious economic crisis.

For Amin Salam, Lebanon will need international support in the coming months.

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With our special correspondent in Beirut,

RFI: Lebanon imports most of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia.

Is war threatening food security in your country?

Amin Salam:

Lebanon is one of the vulnerable countries in terms of food security.

Firstly because the country lost its only reserve of wheat in the explosion at the port of Beirut in August 2020. Unfortunately, the previous governments had not thought of providing us with an additional storage site, we do not shouldn't put all their eggs in one basket!

The second problem - and the main one - is world prices.

We see that the products exist: the supplying countries tell us that they have wheat, oil, sugar, rice, etc… but the prices are skyrocketing.

40%, 60%, sometimes even 100%.

It is the result of an accumulation of challenges: first the Covid and now the war in Ukraine.

These clouds hover over Lebanon, which is already experiencing a serious economic and monetary crisis.

Purchasing power is very low.

And the exchange rate between the dollar and the Lebanese pound has caused the poverty rate to explode.

The challenge is therefore access to these products, even if we manage to import them.

In 5 or 6 months, prices will have increased, because of the cost of transport and in particular the price of fuel.

We are trying to work with the World Bank, with the World Food Program and with the FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) to define a basket of essential products in which the international community could contribute.

We are talking about a basket of 8 to 12 essential products, per household and per month.

Because in 4 to 6 months, the situation will become more complicated.

At the same time, where are the negotiations between Lebanon and the International Monetary Fund for a rescue plan?

They continue.

We will probably have an agreement after the legislative elections [scheduled for May 15].

We may begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And the support measures I mentioned will then be more easily achievable.

Today, wheat is 100% subsidized by the government and this is not sustainable over time.

One day, the subsidies will be lifted, but for us, the important thing is not to repeat the mistakes of the past by lifting them all at the same time, without Plan B. We want to gradually lift the subsidies so as not to affect the population. .

And it will take social programs supported by the international community to protect the most vulnerable families.

Ukrainian wheat: Lebanon considers itself "vulnerable in terms of food security"

Ukrainian wheat: Lebanon considers itself "vulnerable in terms of food security"

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