MP Dima Jamali to "Dialectic": "It is time to implement a strategy to combat poverty and hunger in Lebanon"

You introduced a bill to combat food waste in Lebanon. What is its importance and how will it impact people?
Starting from our awareness of the deprivation faced by people in many of Lebanon’s poor areas, I, along with a number of fellow MPs, introduced the bill to combat food waste. The importance of this project is that by combating food waste, we can support poor regions with food, thus helping to reduce poverty and hunger, which are key sustainable development goals. It’s worth noting that during our study of the project, we observed an increase in food waste in several sectors in Lebanon. Believing in the need to involve all relevant sectors in Lebanon in this issue, we invited a number of organizations, experts, restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and supermarkets to share their opinions in order to improve this law, and we received a very positive response from them.
This bill has been submitted to the joint committees and has been referred to a subcommittee formed by the Parliament, of which I am an active and influential member. The subcommittee is studying and discussing it in more detail.

Do you have data for this project in terms of poverty rates and the geographical distribution of the poor in Lebanon? In other words, is there a strategy for implementing this law once passed?
Of course, there is a strategy to address poverty in Lebanon. The World Bank, in cooperation with the Presidency of the Government and the Ministry of Social Affairs, conducted a comprehensive survey of every household in Lebanon to identify the 100,000 poorest families. In this context, we rely on the statistics and information they have in preparing this project. Later, when we start redistributing food after the law is passed, we will target the poorest regions and families.
Which areas have the highest poverty rates?
The highest poverty rates in Lebanon are concentrated in the Bekaa region, with a rate between 38% and 40%, followed by Tripoli at 37% and Akkar at 40%. These are very high rates. We are facing very big challenges today, especially concerning unemployment and poverty.
In the draft bill, there is a mention of the negative effects of food waste in Lebanon in several sectors, primarily the environment. What is the connection between food waste and the environment?
The connection between food waste and the environment is very clear. Food that is discarded takes about 1,000 years to decompose. Therefore, we must find ways to redistribute food so that poor families can benefit from it primarily, and also to reduce the negative environmental impact.

Laws passed by the Parliament are often not followed up on. Why do you think this happens, and will we face this issue with the food waste law?
As a first-time MP, I can confirm that the Parliament does its role through the parliamentary committees, which work professionally and seriously to present and discuss bills. However, as you mentioned, there is often an issue with implementation, and this is primarily the responsibility of the relevant ministries. Certainly, in the face of significant economic and living pressures, there can sometimes be delays in passing certain laws, as the government is currently working to solve the basic and urgent issues that directly impact citizens’ lives, such as the anti-corruption law, housing, and other living concerns. In this context, I confirm that the government supports all projects that help alleviate citizens' suffering and address issues of poverty and hunger, including this project. Therefore, we will follow up on this project after its approval with the government’s support and in coordination with the relevant authorities.

Is there a strategy for collaboration between the public and private sectors in Lebanon, and in the food waste bill specifically?
To be honest, for the first time I’ve noticed genuine attempts at collaboration between the public and private sectors in lawmaking. Both the Parliament and the government have recognized the importance of the private sector’s role in the upcoming phase, and there are several projects in which the private sector is participating seriously. As an MP representing Tripoli, I am working to involve the private sector in many projects, such as the "Quality Inn" project, the hotel institute project in the Mina area, and the renovation of the Tripoli Exhibition Center, which is an archaeological site. Also, through my work with the National Network for Sustainable Development, we are activating participation between the public and private sectors.
In the food waste bill, the private sector plays a key role. When we work with supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, and others, we are involving the private sector. We are also working with food banks and NGOs, who will be responsible for receiving the food, ensuring its quality, and redistributing it properly to citizens. It’s worth noting that involving the private sector in this project will help implement the law effectively.

What about individual initiatives focusing on food waste? Will you involve them in this project?
Lebanon thrives on individual initiatives, and we encourage this and take pride in it. I invite all those interested in combating food waste to follow up on this issue and reach out to us when it is passed because they will certainly play a role in this context.
Given all the economic, environmental, and living challenges people face, how can we convince them of the importance of contributing to food waste reduction, such as through sorting?
I won’t tell people that the food waste bill is the most important, but it complements other environmental and living projects. For example, this project helps reduce the pollution we live with. Of course, combating food waste is not the only solution to environmental and living issues, but it contributes to the solution.