People in Lebanon are welcoming the resumption of grain imports from Ukraine, hoping it will resolve their food shortages. The first grain-carrying ship since the Russian invasion began will arrive at a Lebanese port as early as this week. Lebanon depends on Ukraine for about 70 percent of its wheat imports. It has suffered shortages of staple food supplies as Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to the disruption of grain exports. Bread prices have more than doubled, and yet the shelves of the bread section are mostly empty in supermarkets in the capital Beirut.
As the first ship departed Odesa in the south of Ukraine on Monday, the Lebanese people expressed hope that the food situation would be resolved. A man in his 40s who was shopping with his wife said that with food prices soaring across the board, he is really happy to hear the news about the resumption of exports. He said he believes that life in Lebanon will improve if the situation in Ukraine is resolved. A man in his 60s said bread is sold out everywhere and that he must stand in a queue early in the morning to get it. He said he hopes the situation will improve.