CAIRO: Bread queues have once again started to form in front of bakeries in Alexandria after the Ministry of Social Solidarity’s decision to discontinue rewards of extra flour quotas to bakeries producing semi-subsidized 10-piaster bread loaves known as “tebaqy bread.
People lined up for long hours in front of bakeries early in the morning, especially in densely populated areas where the quantities available were insufficient.
“Bread queues will persist; the problem is that some bakeries still continue to produce and distribute their own bread in violation of a decree to separate production and distribution points, said Farag Wahba, head of the bakeries unit of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.
“The ministry decided to stop the rewards for bakeries that failed to apply the measures stipulated by the ministry, Farag told Daily News Egypt.
Although the special reward flour has been discontinued, Farag assured that wheat rations are increasing and that there are no shortages.
The ministry decreed the separation of production and distribution to combat re-selling of subsidized flour in the black market for a huge profit.
According to the new rules, the penalty for violating the rules is paying 10 to 20 percent of the price of the wheat given to them or depriving the offending bakeries of their quotas for three months. They will also be threatened with having their licenses revoked.
A recent report issued by the Ministry of Social Solidarity said that 90 percent of production points and 80 percent of distribution points now abide by the new rules.
The report added Egypt has a total reserve of 3.66 million tons of wheat which is sufficient to satisfy the country’s needs until the end of November.
The government had previously announced that the bread crisis had abated and that the queues no longer exist.
Violence that erupted in bread queues reportedly claimed the lives of 17 people earlier this year. The crisis ended when the president enlisted the army’s interference, adding 10 giant bakeries and 500 distribution outlets throughout Cairo.
Minister of Social Solidarity Ali El-Moselhi told local press last week that the ministry will complete restructuring the bread sector by the end of the year, adding that the government has allocated LE 21.6 billion in subsidies for this project.
He also said that the consumption rate of wheat among Egyptian citizens is double the world consumption rates.
He announced the creation of a hot line number – 19468 – to receive citizens’ bread-related complaints.
