Golez: Food security - Qatar very vulnerable to food blockade. Qatar is geographically isolated and is linked by land only to Saudi Arabia. It's sea transport line could by interdicted by UAE. Qatar's food link is Saudi Arabia which is leading the diplomatic war against Qatar.
"Panic time in Doha as Gulf rift bites" @PhilstarNews https://t.co/rj3a4eZ7Fh
"Six Arab nations – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen and Libya’s eastern-based government – and Maldives cut ties with Qatar last Monday, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and Iran."
""Shelves were nearly empty and shoppers with food-filled carts waited in long lines in a supermarket.
"The images, sent by an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Doha to ABS-CBN News, illustrated panic buying of basic supplies that broke out Monday in the capital city of beleaguered Qatar after it lost diplomatic ties with seven countries.
"Some 250,000 OFWs are based in Qatar, whose citizens number only about 300,000."
Qatar is one of the wealthiest countries on earth, but it’s going to feel the pain all the same because it relies heavily on its neighbors for trade and travel in and out of the region. The peninsular nation imports most of its food through its land border with Saudi, which is now closed. Al Jazeera, a Qatar government-owned news network, has reported that trucks carrying food appear to be stranded on the Saudi side of the border. And in Doha, the capital of Qatar, people are already “stockpiling perishable goods,” according to Jassim Mater Kunji, a producer for Al Jazeera English. Many ships carrying food to Doha first stop in the UAE’s biggest cities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi; it’s unclear what effect the new bans will have on their movements.
From another article:
"Qatar is one of the wealthiest countries on earth, but it’s going to feel the pain all the same because it relies heavily on its neighbors for trade and travel in and out of the region. The peninsular nation imports most of its food through its land border with Saudi, which is now closed. Al Jazeera, a Qatar government-owned news network, has reported that trucks carrying food appear to be stranded on the Saudi side of the border. And in Doha, the capital of Qatar, people are already “stockpiling perishable goods,” according to Jassim Mater Kunji, a producer for Al Jazeera English. Many ships carrying food to Doha first stop in the UAE’s biggest cities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi; it’s unclear what effect the new bans will have on their movements."
"Qatar is one of the wealthiest countries on earth, but it’s going to feel the pain all the same because it relies heavily on its neighbors for trade and travel in and out of the region. The peninsular nation imports most of its food through its land border with Saudi, which is now closed. Al Jazeera, a Qatar government-owned news network, has reported that trucks carrying food appear to be stranded on the Saudi side of the border. And in Doha, the capital of Qatar, people are already “stockpiling perishable goods,” according to Jassim Mater Kunji, a producer for Al Jazeera English. Many ships carrying food to Doha first stop in the UAE’s biggest cities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi; it’s unclear what effect the new bans will have on their movements."
Panic time in Doha as Gulf rift bites
People buy essential food items in a supermarket in Doha on June 5 after Arab nations cut diplomatic ties with Qatar. Right photo from Twitter shows empty shelves in another Doha supermarket. AP
MANILA, Philippines - Shelves were nearly empty and shoppers with food-filled carts waited in long lines in a supermarket.
The images, sent by an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Doha to ABS-CBN News, illustrated panic buying of basic supplies that broke out Monday in the capital city of beleaguered Qatar after it lost diplomatic ties with seven countries.
Some 250,000 OFWs are based in Qatar, whose citizens number only about 300,000.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has temporarily stopped sending Filipino workers to Qatar.
“We have ordered the suspension of deployment. This is for us to assess the situation because there are so many wild rumors, although our POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) informed me that there are no riots contrary to reports,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said yesterday.
He said the POLO in Qatar is stocking food for OFWs while recruitment agencies are coordinating with their counterparts to ensure sufficient protection for Filipino workers.
The labor chief said DOLE is also sending augmentation teams to the different POLOs in the Middle East for the preparation of contingency measures, including a possible repatriation of OFWs already in Qatar.
“Cesar” (real name withheld), who works for a supermarket in Doha, confirmed the panic buying, despite Qatari officials reassuring residents there was no need to panic after Saudi Arabia imposed a de facto food blockade.
“Totoo po iyun. Sa kabila ng pagiging kalmado ng ating mga kababayan na sabi ay hindi naman dapat mag-panic, iyun po ang totoong nangyari dito po kahapon... Iyung shelves po namin ay talaga totally empty po (The reports of panic buying here are true. Although our fellow Filipinos stayed calm, that is really what happened. Our shelves here are now totally empty),” he told ABS-CBN, adding he is not sure how their supermarket will replenish stocks.
Six Arab nations – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen and Libya’s eastern-based government – and Maldives cut ties with Qatar last Monday, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and Iran.
The biggest diplomatic crisis to hit the Middle East in years is already hitting food imports in the small, oil-rich peninsular state that is home to 2.5 million people.
Gulf countries that severed ties with Qatar supply about 80 percent of its food requirements.
“People have stormed into the supermarket hoarding food, especially imported ones,” Eva Tobaji, another Doha expat, who had come from shopping, told Reuters, further describing the scene as “chaos.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said.
Multiple queues up to 25 people deep formed in Carrefour supermarket in Doha’s City Center mall, one of the busiest shopping areas in the Qatari capital, hours after the severance of ties.
Shoppers piled trollies and baskets high and shelves were stripped of essentials such as milk, rice and chicken.
Government aid
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the decision of some Gulf states to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar “may have some ripple effects on our overseas Filipino workers,” but the government is ready to assist those who might be affected by the rift.
“Concerned government agencies are now looking at the matter and would extend assistance and other support to OFWs who may be affected by such action,” Abella said.
‘Remain calm, be prudent’
Expressing concern over recent events in the Gulf region, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged Filipinos in Qatar and countries that cut diplomatic ties with it to remain calm and regularly communicate with Philippine embassies or consulates in their respective host countries.
“The Philippines expresses concern over the recent events in the Gulf region and hopes that all concerned parties will be able to resolve issues peacefully,” the DFA said in a statement.
“Our foreign service posts are closely monitoring the situation, and our primary concern is to ensure the welfare of our kababayans (fellow Filipinos) in the affected countries,” the DFA said.
In an advisory, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan Timbayan also called on Filipinos to remain calm and exercise prudence.
New OWWA Law
Sen. Sonny Angara said under Republic Act 10801 or the new OWWA Law, which was enacted last year, the displaced OFWs could avail themselves of assistance in the event that they lose their jobs and are repatriated to the Philippines.
“Qatar has the third biggest OFW population in the Middle East. For the affected OFWs, the government is ready to assist them through the new OWWA Law,” Angara, vice chairman of the Senate labor committee, said.
The reintegration program for displaced OFWs is one of the core programs of the OWWA under the law, where at least 10 percent of the total collection of OWWA should be used every year for training on financial literacy, entrepreneurial development, techno-skills, business counseling, as well as job referrals for both local and overseas employment.
Daunting task
Allies of President Duterte at the House of Representatives have called on the administration to ensure the safety and well-being of OFWs in light of the Qatar crisis.
“The possibility that we might have to repatriate a huge number of OFWs is a daunting task by itself. Even more challenging is the need to provide them with ample financial support,” Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said yesterday.
He pointed out that the government should ensure appropriate assistance for OFWs in Qatar when the need arises.
Prayers for OFWs
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMIP) chairman and Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos yesterday advised OFWs based in the Middle East, particularly in Qatar, to exercise vigilance and not join groups that have violent ideologies.
The Bataan prelate also included in his prayers the restoration of friendship among the Arab countries.
PAL flights continue
Despite the ongoing Qatar crisis, Philippine Airlines (PAL) will continue operating flights from Manila to the following destinations: Dubai in UAE, Kuwait, Doha in Qatar, Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
“While PAL is not a party to the dispute and maintains strong bilateral ties with these countries, it shall observe guidelines issued by said nations,” the flag-carrier said in a statement yesterday.
Close watch
Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, as well as their impact on oil prices, inflation and remittances from overseas Filipinos.
BSP Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the Wealth Watch Book II that monetary authorities are set to assess the extent and coverage of the Qatar crisis.
“We need to look at a longer term perspective so (it is) too soon to draw anything from this, but it bears close watch,” he added.
The Middle East emerged as the second biggest source of cash remittances with $1.97 billion from January to March this year, next to the Americas with $2.51 billion. – AFP, Reuters, ABS-CBN, Mayen Jaymalin, Alexis Romero, Pia Lee-Brago, Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, Delon Porcalla, Jess Diaz, Evelyn Macairan, Louella Desiderio, Lawrence Agcaoili
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