Lebanon Faces Gasoline Crisis, Unprecedented Meat Price Hike

 Vehicles queue for fuel at a gas station in the village of Msayleh, Lebanon March 16, 2021. (Reuters)
Vehicles queue for fuel at a gas station in the village of Msayleh, Lebanon March 16, 2021. (Reuters)
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Lebanon Faces Gasoline Crisis, Unprecedented Meat Price Hike

 Vehicles queue for fuel at a gas station in the village of Msayleh, Lebanon March 16, 2021. (Reuters)
Vehicles queue for fuel at a gas station in the village of Msayleh, Lebanon March 16, 2021. (Reuters)

With the imminent lifting of subsidies on basic supplies, a fuel crisis emerged in Lebanon in parallel with a further increase in the prices of food products, especially meat and poultry, which prompted the General Labor Union to threaten to take to the streets after Eid Al-Fitr holiday.

On Monday, a large number of gas stations abstained from supplying cars with gasoline, while long queues of vehicles waited since early morning to receive a maximum amount of 20 liters of gasoline, a ceiling set by the stations that decided to remain open.

The representative of fuel distributors, Fadi Abu Chakra, said that the current gasoline crisis was due to rumors about an imminent rationalization of subsidy and fear that fuel prices would double.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he explained that citizens have rushed to fill and store gasoline over the past few days, which led to fuel scarcity in the market.

Abu Chakra clarified that until the moment, subsidy on gasoline has not been lifted; hence prices have not increased, adding that the distributing companies would complete on Tuesday the distribution of gasoline, which is supposed to end this crisis.

The Lebanese army had recently announced thwarting several operations of fuel smuggling into Syrian territory and the arrest of Lebanese and Syrian people involved in smuggling activities.

Meanwhile, prices of foodstuffs witnessed a major increase over the past two days, especially in meat and poultry, after workers in the sector announced that the Central Bank had stopped securing subsidized dollars for importing meat and poultry supplies.

Citizens rushed to the supermarkets after the syndicate announced that the price of chicken would rise by more than 40 percent within weeks. Moreover, a number of butcheries closed their doors protesting the lack of subsidized meat, while others increased the price of a kilo of meat by 30 percent compared to the past week.

The President of the General Labor Union, Bechara Al-Asmar, warned that the union would not stand idly by amid what he called a "programmed chaos" aimed at starving the people, threatening to take to the streets after Eid Al-Fitr holiday.



Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday with the participation of top scientists, experts, decision-makers from around the world.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, with the participation of World Water Council President Loïc Fauchon, inaugurated the official logo of the World Water Forum 2027.

In his remarks, Alfadley emphasized Saudi Arabia’s call for strengthened international cooperation and joint efforts among countries and organizations to tackle global water challenges. He underscored the importance of ensuring universal access to water and sanitation services as a key pillar in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

“Saudi Arabia prioritizes the water sector through various measures, including the adoption of a national strategy encompassing water production, storage, transportation, distribution, treatment, and reuse, all within a comprehensive institutional framework,” Alfadley added.

He further stated that the Kingdom has implemented Integrated Water Resources Management and enhanced supply chain governance. This is supported by the release of a long-term supply and demand plan that extends to 2050, alongside a commitment to environmental, social, and economic considerations in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

Highlighting the Kingdom's leading role in supporting regional and international water issues, Alfadley pointed to the launching of the Global Water Organization, aimed at fostering international collaboration, and the establishment of an International Water Research Center focused on water economics, water security, advanced technologies, and digital transformation.

Fauchon said the council, in collaboration with Saudi authorities, has developed a comprehensive framework outlining the thematic, regional, and political components that will shape the roadmap for the 11th edition of the forum that is being held in the Middle East for the first time.

He stressed the need to make water a top global priority, adding that this gathering will lay the foundation for future water policies. “The way ahead is still long, but we are confident we’re on the right path toward real solutions—solutions that can change lives,” he said.

Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Dr. Abdulaziz Alshaibani underscored the urgency of the current moment, describing the preparatory meeting as a call for serious and immediate action. Alshaibani emphasized the need to build upon existing progress in the water sector and to move decisively towards solidifying priorities.

He stressed the importance of greater coherence and integration across all sectors, along with the unification of all efforts, to achieve tangible solutions to global water challenges and to meet SDG 6. Alshaibani further noted that effective solutions must be anchored in several key pillars, including financing, innovation, diplomacy, and environmental considerations.

The World Water Forum 2027, organized by the World Water Council in Saudi Arabia, is a significant international platform for exchanging ideas and experiences in water management.