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Bread is a staple food for Libyan families, but bakeries in the capital Tripoli were shut down sharply two weeks ago, saying they were forced to do so by rising food prices. flour and fuel. When she reopened, she apologized to the citizens and offered three rolls of dinar, which he bought at eight loaves.
Khareeh Zeghait, a 54-year-old housewife, told Reuters, "God knows how difficult the situation is. I used to have a loaf of bread, but now that's half the bread … In some days we do not buy bread … Some days I buy the bank, but they do not give bread. "
Only, once one of the richest countries in the region.The citizen could buy 40 loaves of bread with a dinar.But differences divide the country into rival factions fighting for control of power and
The economic problems worsened after 2014, when two governments, two parliaments and two central candidates were formed in Tripoli and east after disputed elections. </ p> <p> The gap between the official exchange rate of 1.4 dinars against the dollar has been dug up and the black market price after the country's foreign exchange earnings have dropped due to the disruption of oil production.The dollar is currently buying about seven dinars on the parallel market.
Some people who get dollars at the official exchange rate for exploitation use them illegally, according to the Reuters report, leaving scarce funds to bring r essential goods in the country. Inflation is approaching 30% and the collapse of confidence in the banking system, partly under the control of armed groups, has caused a serious liquidity crisis. According to the United Nations, about 1.1 million people need humanitarian assistance. "
Ahmed Ali, a government employee, said," After rising food and meat prices, wages are not enough. They have liquidity every three or four months. "
Traders and officials in Benghazi blame the political divisions and the weakness of the dinar for the sharp price increases since last year." The reason for the high price of a loaf is that we do not do not receive regularly subsidized flour, "said Ali Khaled, owner of a bakery.
Jamal al-Shaibani, director of the Tripoli fund, told Reuters that But the fund has not received of funds for the supply of wheat or flour in the last three years.
"Given that the state is unable to bridge the support gap due to low oil revenues, it is left to private sector. No one bears any responsibility and no one is held responsible. "
Libya was spending $ 2 billion a year To support flour, rice, sugar, tea and other products, they have increased subsidies on products since 2015 without providing financial support to Most of the products are imported from the public budget and sold at cost.
A total of 4160 bakeries are distributed throughout Libya as well as 57 flour mills that distribute the flour to the kilns at semi-subsidized prices. Libya consumes about 1.26 million tonnes of cereals a year and imports 95% of common wheat. [New Arab]
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