Ministry of Social Affairs to Cooperatives: Verify Strategic Stock Availability

Amid regional threats and tensions, and renewed discussions about the possibility of the warring parties resuming the conflict that has persisted in the region for months, Al-Jareeda learned that the Ministry of Social Affairs, represented by its Financial and Administrative Affairs and Cooperation Sector, has instructed the boards of directors of all cooperative societies to ensure the availability of their strategic reserves of food commodities and essential consumer goods, while verifying their expiration dates for consumption. The ministry emphasized the necessity of preparing pre-designated shelter centers distributed across schools in the six governorates, totaling 95 centers, to ensure organized operations and guarantee rapid emergency response when needed.

According to sources from the Ministry of Social Affairs, there are direct directives from Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwaili to ministry executives, stressing the need for all sectors under the ministry, as well as entities supervised and operating under its umbrella, to activate emergency plans, particularly within cooperative societies and central markets and their branches distributed across various regions of the country, in anticipation of any contingency. She affirmed that these preparations are part of the preventive and proactive measures taken by the state to ensure the stability of service provision.

The sources added that the ministry, based on the principle of government cooperation and joint coordination to address any emerging challenges, held a meeting with the General Directorate of Civil Defense to discuss the readiness and preparedness of cooperative societies. It was noted that during the meeting, it was proposed to increase the number of shelter centers by three new centers, thereby enhancing capacity and raising the level of readiness to handle any potential developments.

The ministry mandated cooperative societies, since the beginning of the crisis, to stockpile a variety of food items, including water, snacks, and other essential needs, sufficient for approximately 400 individuals per center, with three meals provided daily. It was pointed out that the provision of bedding, including mattresses, blankets, and pillows, would be the responsibility of charitable societies, in coordination with relevant authorities.

The 95 shelter centers are distributed across schools in the six governorates as follows: 19 centers in the Capital and Ahmadi governorates, 17 in Hawalli, 11 in Mubarak Al-Kabeer, 14 in Farwaniya, and 15 in Jahra.

The sources confirmed that coordination between the ministry and relevant government agencies aims to unify roles and define each entity’s responsibilities, thereby preventing any overlap or delays in implementing procedures when emergency plans are activated. This is particularly crucial, as dealing with exceptional circumstances requires swift decision-making and the integration of human and logistical capabilities, in addition to ensuring the smooth flow of providing and distributing essential materials according to actual needs.

The ministry stressed the importance of cooperative societies continuing to monitor inventory levels and consumption rates on a regular basis, and to verify the readiness of supply chains and sales outlets, thereby maintaining market stability and meeting the needs of citizens and residents under all circumstances.