The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has reported a significant increase in the cost of the minimum food basket in Libya, rising by approximately 15% since the beginning of 2024.
The report highlights that food prices have fluctuated between increases and stability over the past few months.
According to the WFP report, food prices are the highest in southern Libya, where they exceed the national average by 2%.
Specifically, the prices of essential items such as pasta and salt have risen by 11.7%, potatoes by 17.2%, tomatoes by a staggering 85.9%, and onions by 15.5% between June and July.
While the cost of the non-food expenditure basket has decreased, largely due to a significant 30.7% drop in cooking fuel prices compared to April and May, food prices continue to be a concern.
Several cities recorded a rise in food prices in July compared to June, including Ghat (12.4%), Nalut (9.4%), and Tripoli (6.8%). In Kufra, the cost of the food basket soared to 1,105 Libyan Dinars, despite a national price drop of 2.1%.
The report attributes the price surge in Kufra to increased demand following the arrival of thousands of Sudanese refugees, in addition to damages caused by storms and heavy rainfall.
On the other hand, Tobruk experienced a 9.9% decrease in food prices, bringing the cost of the food basket down to 671 Libyan Dinars, thanks to the arrival of goods from Egypt at lower prices.
