The Banque du Liban called on the government in a press release to adopt the rationing plan for basic necessities, indicating that it could not resort to compulsory reserves to finance it.
In addition, the central bank would have been informed by the Ministry of Health of priority supplies in terms of hospital expenditure. It would thus have transmitted to the local banks the amounts necessary to ensure the purchases.
Already last week, hospitals warned of a possible shutdown of some of their services including dialysis due to a lack of single-use medical supplies. This threat was not materialized, however, after the Banque du Liban was able to make the necessary payments to purchase these supplies from importers of drugs and medical equipment.
Regarding the supply of gasoline, it considers that the quantities currently available are sufficient. It therefore calls on parliamentarians to put in place a plan to rationalize public subsidies at this level to ensure their continuity, noting moreover that the MEDCO company has succeeded in meeting the needs of its gas stations continuously. It therefore calls on other companies to proceed in the same way.
As a reminder, many gas stations have had to close their pumps in recent weeks, indicating that they have not been adequately supplied. Rationing has also been put in place for other petrol stations while incidents, even clashes, between motorists and pump attendants have taken place.
Finally, concerning the supply of flour and wheat, the Banque du Liban indicates that it has pre-approved a subsidy request from the Ministry of the Economy.
