Caretaker Agriculture Minister, Abbas Mortada, called Saturday for doing justice to farmers in Akkar and compensating them the soonest possible for the damages caused by the recent storm.

"We call on all concerned sides to assume their responsibilities and address the problems facing the agricultural sector which we badly need, while we face a threat to food security in Lebanon in light of the high dollar exchange rate," he said.

Mortada promised to remain in contact with all those concerned in order to expedite compensations to farmers especially that nothing was paid for the damages incurred during the past year. He disclosed that he will "address a letter to the Central Bank Governor to speed-up the payment of all amounts due to importers of fertilizers, seeds and all agricultural supplies."

The Caretaker Minister's words came during his visit to the region of Akkar today, which he started by visiting the Akkar Agriculture Authority accompanied by Head of the High Relief Commission, Major General Mohammad al-Khair, in the presence of MP Mustafa Ali Hussein, and then toured the Akkar Plain to have a closer look at the severe damages caused by the "Grand River" floods every winter season.