Babel: Translating the Middle East
A Mezze: Tunisia's Hunger Games
Sep 12, 2023
Exploring Tunisia's severe food insecurity and scarcity of basic products amid the country's growing food crisis.
03:41
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Quick takeaways
- Tunisia is facing a severe food crisis with widespread shortages of basic products and grocery store owners resorting to black marketeering to meet the demand.
- The government's economic crisis, external factors such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and climate change have contributed to inflated food prices and discouraged farmers and manufacturers from increasing production in Tunisia.
Deep dives
Growing Food Crisis and Shortages in Tunisia
Tunisia is facing a growing food crisis with widespread shortages of basic products, leading to severe food insecurity for more than a quarter of Tunisians. Grocery store owners have resorted to black marketeering to meet the demand. External factors such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and climate change have inflated food prices, while government policies, including subsidies and price caps, have discouraged farmers and manufacturers from increasing production. The government's economic crisis has also hindered its ability to finance food imports. Tunisians now rely on connections and a network of constantly changing rules to access necessary goods.
