Bakeries in northern Lebanon will stop working as of Wednesday amid a fuel crisis in the Arab country, the bakeries union said.
-There is a crisis caused by shortages of flour and fuel- Tarek al-Mir, head of the bakeries union in northern Lebanon, told reporters in Tripoli on Tuesday. -People are in danger of not being able to get bread.-
There was no comment from Lebanese authorities on the announcement.
The Economy Ministry usually provides bakeries with flour and fuel, known as mazout, via weekly vouchers at a subsidized price. Bakery owners, however, complain that amounts provided fall short.
While the official price announced by the Energy Ministry for 20 liters of mazout is 98,000 Lebanese liras ($65), black market vendors sell the same amount for some 350,000 Lebanese pounds ($232).
Lebanon is facing a severe economic crisis, with the local currency losing nearly all of its value against the dollar.
The Arab country has been unable to form a new government since the resignation of Hassan Diab's cabinet on Aug. 10, 2020, six days after the massive Beirut port blast.