SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 29 March 2024, Friday |

Famine knocking at the doors of Lebanese amid skyrocketing prices of goods!

The Lebanese market has witnessed crazy differences in commodity prices between 2019 and today, due to lifting subsidies on main commodities including foodstuff and oil derivatives.

The bundle of bread jumped from 1,500 LBP to 3,500 LBP, one kilogram of beef meat soared from 13,000 LBP to 180,000 LBP, one kilogram of chicken meat surged from 3,000 LBP to 30,000 LBP, one kilogram of rice increased from 1,500 to 20,000 LBPs, and one kilogram of labneh rose from 7,000 LBP to 65,000 LBP. A carton of eggs increased from 6,000 to 40,000 LBP, a can of chickpeas soared from 750 to 15,000 LBP, one kilogram of sugar rose from 1,000 to 16,000 LBP, and 5 liter of oil increased from 12,000 to 220,000 LBP.

These skyrocketing prices due to the gradual lifting of subsidies along with the merchant’s monopoly, and the absence for any supervision over the markets, has deprived citizens from purchasing their main needs. Stores became almost empty of residents, while customers confined on expatriates only who have fresh dollars.

A citizen told Sawt Beirut International (SBI) reporter Ibrahim Fatfat, “I live in Canada, and found that the prices of some goods are high while others are acceptable compared to its prices abroad.”

Another one said: “I have not visited Lebanon for two years, and I found a big difference in prices and brand varieties.”

While searching for customers between the store shelves, we may spot a citizen who is calculating the prices, and complaining about the high prices, and a citizen said, “The differences in prices is huge.”

The absence of any control and supervision over the markets has allowed traders to manipulate the prices of commodities. The state this time is fabricating the crisis that warns of a near famine.

    Source:
  • Sawt Beirut International