Food Reserves Assured, Supplies Continuing

Faisal Matar - Ali Khalafah

Following the meeting of the Supreme Committee for Civil Defense held last Thursday, chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, in light of current regional developments and directives to relevant authorities to ensure the provision of basic needs and enhance public reassurance and stability, an Al-Qabas survey of cooperative societies and markets yesterday (Saturday) revealed that the strategic reserve is secure, food supplies are abundant, and deliveries continue without obstacles.

Officials told Al-Qabas that the flow of food and supply commodities to markets and cooperative societies remains ongoing. Government authorities are continuously monitoring the strategic reserve and securing the needs of citizens and residents through measures that combine facilitating imports, accelerating the entry of shipments, and monitoring the availability of goods. They emphasized that since the onset of regional developments at the end of February, supply and distribution operations have continued, supported by coordination between relevant authorities, suppliers, and retail outlets.

Officials pointed to the intensive follow-up of the outcomes of the Supreme Committee for Civil Defense meeting chaired by Al-Yousef and the continuous activation of the emergency plan, highlighting the concerted efforts of military, security, and state institutions to ensure the continuity of services and strengthen the security and safety system. They stressed that state institutions have demonstrated their competence in managing crises and keeping pace with regional developments, noting that shopping activity in cooperatives and parallel markets is normal and proceeding as usual.

According to officials, this file receives direct follow-up from First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, within the periodic meetings of the Supreme Committee for Civil Defense, which monitor the readiness of government authorities and the continuity of basic services. The committee’s latest meeting included listening to an explanation from the Union of Cooperatives regarding the availability of sufficient quantities of basic goods to meet the needs of citizens and residents.

Measures by the Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Social Affairs, and Interior, along with the General Administration of Customs and the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, are integrated to monitor the arrival of food materials, ensure they meet safety requirements, and facilitate their flow to markets, cooperatives, and supply branches, in coordination with suppliers and relevant authorities, thereby ensuring the continued fulfillment of local demand.

At border crossings, customs facilitations have contributed to the continuous entry of food shipments by prioritizing them and accelerating inspection and clearance procedures. At the Salwa crossing, an economic lane has been designated for food, medical supplies, and sheep, granting them priority for inspection and entry, with round-the-clock operations and coordination with the Saudi Ar-Raqi crossing to facilitate truck transit.

Previously, Salwa Customs Director Saad Al-Qarini announced that the crossing receives approximately 500 trucks daily carrying food, sheep, medical supplies, and other goods, noting that facilitation of their entry has continued since the beginning of the events, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and relevant state institutions.

The speed of processing procedures is accompanied by the inspection of shipments and verification of their safety, while the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition continues to coordinate with customs and ports to facilitate the entry of food products that meet specifications. These measures also include organizing pre-clearance for goods arriving via land crossings through the automated customs system, to support the smooth flow of imports.

In parallel with monitoring supplies through border crossings, the Ministry of Social Affairs oversees central markets and supply branches through its Central Control Room in the Abdullah Al-Salem suburb. This room provides direct, real-time connectivity with cooperative societies and is linked with the Ministries of Commerce and Interior to monitor markets and sites under supervision. At its launch, the room comprised 191 monitoring points distributed across 76 cooperative societies, operating around the clock throughout the week, with recordings retained for four months and accessible for review. The systems also enable officials to directly access data and reports, track operational progress, and address observations in coordination with relevant authorities. The room’s work includes monitoring the types and prices of goods on display, supporting the protection of the strategic reserve, and exercising administrative and financial oversight of cooperatives. The Ministry of Social Affairs confirmed the stability of cooperative stocks and the full operational capacity of the supply system, with reserves in place to ensure continued product availability.

In parallel, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry continues to monitor the availability of basic commodities, enhance stockpiles, and diversify import sources, in coordination with mill companies and the private sector. Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company confirmed its continued ability to meet consumer needs and its stable operational and logistical status.

The explanation provided by the Union of Cooperatives at the recent meeting of the Supreme Committee for Civil Defense regarding the sufficiency of goods to meet local needs and demand is an extension of these monitoring efforts, with shipments continuing to arrive and be distributed and markets under surveillance, enabling citizens and residents to obtain their usual supplies of food and essential commodities.

Coordination of Efforts: Officials emphasized the convergence of efforts among relevant state entities and the continuation of joint coordination to regulate market activity and ensure the enhancement of the strategic reserve of food commodities and all necessities.

Integrated Measures: Officials clarified that the ministries of Commerce and Industry, Social Affairs, and Interior, along with the General Customs Authority and the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, have integrated their measures to monitor the arrival of food commodities, ensure they meet safety requirements, and facilitate their flow to markets, cooperatives, and supply branches.