The supply chain impact of Israel's assault on Lebanon as it continues its onslaught against Hezbollah, the Iran-supported terror group embedded in the south of its neighbour to the north, has severely diminished Lebanon’s airfreight capacity, leaving its sole airline struggling to meet demand, while charter companies are reluctant to fill the gaps.
Mourad Aoun, CEO of Lebanon distribution firm The Net Global, said the Israeli aggression against Beirut had significantly affected the capacity of regional supply chains.
He expressed concerns about sourcing capacity for Beirut, highlighting that only Middle East Airlines (MEA) was servicing the airport.
Aoun said charter carriers were unwilling to provide additional capacity to support the country’s only gateway due to insurance difficulties, making it nearly impossible to import goods, particularly medical supplies.
With Israel intensifying its attacks on the Lebanese capital, there have been increasing international calls for the protection of the airport.
It had previously been targeted during Israel’s 2006 war with Lebanon but has recently handled a surge of aid shipments from France and Qatar.
Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, Lolwah Al-Khater, indicated that Beirut Airport served as the only passage for humanitarian aid and that ensuring its safety was of utmost importance.
Matthew Hollingworth, Lebanon director of the World Food Programme, stressed the critical need for the airport and ports to remain operational, as well as the importance of maintaining overland corridors into Lebanon.
Aoun said both the airport and Beirut port had been spared from direct attacks. However, with the reduction in airfreight capacity, the country had been facing delays and shortages.
He pointed out that Lebanon and some of its neighbours relied heavily on imports for essential items such as food and fuel, and the escalation of strikes was likely to exacerbate these issues, resulting in significant reductions in business activity.
He also noted that security risks to individuals in the bombarded areas had led to millions being displaced from their homes in cities and villages, with the southern part of Lebanon becoming a war zone.
In regions close to the conflict zones, employees are encountering difficulties in commuting to work under such circumstances. Aoun highlighted the widespread destruction, stating that at least 50 employees had lost their homes. SOURCE: The Loadstar
