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Anger rising in Tripoli at Ramadan food price hikes

14 August 2010

TRIPOLI: Celebrations and festivities are not the only thing to have increased with the beginning of Ramadan, as prices of food products have skyrocketed over the past week.

Locals are complaining that traders and officials have taken advantage of the famous Ramadan meals, and the importance these gatherings have for believers, to hike the prices of all types of food products, whether meat, vegetables or fruits.

In Tripoli, the public is blaming large-scale traders and government officials, accusing them of neglecting the people’s needs.

A man buying vegetables in the market said the phenomenon has become an annual event, because Ramadan was a profitable season and officials didn’t pay attention to the people’s suffering.

“The truth is that the state doesn’t care about the needs of the people, who are struggling without anyone to help lift their burdens,” he said, noting that Ramadan was meant to be a month of charitable works and good blessings.

The month of fasting, which started on Wednesday, is an opportunity for believers to abstain from food and drink and focus on spiritual development. Believers fast from dusk to dawn and have two main meals to break their fasting.

Nonetheless, the cost of all food products usually increases during this month, and this year is no exception.

For example, four bunches of parsley cost LL1,000 before Ramadan, while only one bunch can be bought for the same price today. Moreover, the prices of red meat have gone up by LL2,000 and the value of one kilogram of chicken has risen by LL3,000.

The “modifications” are evident throughout the country, and in Tripoli, some people have attempted to cheat the inflationary trend by heading to stores as late as possible to buy leftover food at lower prices.

However, not all merchants are happy with the situation. Many shopkeepers say they are also suffering from the price increases and blame big dealers and officials for the injustice.

Omar, a young man who works at a store selling vegetables, said the prices went up for no apparent reason, adding that people have started buying only what was strictly necessary. “This reflects negatively on the sales cycle,” he said.

“We also reject this shameful situation but what can we do to confront the big dealers?

“I think the people should rise up and start a movement against poverty and hunger,” he commented.

Abu Khodr, a butcher, agreed with Omar, saying the situation was out of his hands.

“We can’t do anything about it because officials responsible for controlling prices and for setting the limits for big merchants aren’t ready to stand by their people,” he said.

“Maybe their silence is deliberate because they have something to gain.”

The voices of Tripoli locals are beginning to rise, along with the prices, and many have condemned officials, who they described as “enjoying lavish meals” during the holy month.

The complaints aren’t limited to Muslims. A Christian local living in Tripoli condemned the price increase, describing it as unfair, and suggesting unified prices be imposed on merchants.

“I’ve been living in the shopping district of Tripoli for a long time and, year after year during Ramadan, I see the prices go up without previous warning. Why don’t officials act to protect their people?” he asked.

© Copyright The Daily Star 2010.