90,668 more beneficiaries added to Kuwait’s food program in 2024
The number of food supply beneficiaries rise 4.17%, rising from 2.169 million to 2.259 million last December, according to data from the Supply Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Supply Department saw a 5.1% drop in total support to KD 366.3 million in 2024, including an 8.3% decline in construction material support to KD 208.4 million.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Supply Department recorded a decline in total disbursed support in 2024, dropping by 5.1% to hit KD 19.709 million from KD 386 million in 2023 to KD 366.3 million, Al Rai newspaper reported.
According to data from the Supply Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the support disbursed on a monthly basis last December decreased by 8.5 percent (KD 2.9 million), from KD 34.02 million in November to KD 31.18 million in December. On an annual basis, it declined by 17.3 percent (KD 6.5 million), down from KD 37.65 million in December 2023.
The number of cumulative ration cards increased by 2.4 percent in 2024, rising by 6.4 thousand, from 262.61 thousand in 2023 to 269.02 thousand in December.
The number of individuals benefiting from the food supply also grew by 4.17 percent, with an increase of 90,668 beneficiaries, rising from 2.169 million to 2.259 million last December.
Distribution of support
The support provided by the Supply Department of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is divided into three main categories: basic materials, baby milk and nutrients, and construction materials.
The total support disbursed for basic commodities decreased in 2024 by KD 3.609 million (2.5 percent), dropping from KD 144.86 million in 2023 to KD 141.25 million.
On a monthly basis, this support declined by 14.32 percent (KD 1.95 million), falling from KD 13.639 million in November to KD 11.68 million in December. Annually, it decreased by 26.6 percent (KD 4.25 million), down from KD 15.938 million in December 2023.
Support for milk and baby food increased by KD 2.82 million (20.4 percent), rising from KD 13.825 million to KD 16.64 million. On a monthly basis, it doubled (100 percent), increasing by KD 1.231 million from KD 1.29 million in November to KD 2.46 million in December. Annually, it rose by 42.3 percent (KD 731.8 thousand) from KD 1.729 million in December 2023.
Support for construction materials declined by KD 18.9 million (8.3 percent) to KD 208.4 million, down from KD 227.32 million in 2023.
On a monthly basis, this support fell by 11.4 percent (KD 2.18 million), decreasing to KD 16.96 million in December from KD 19.15 million in November. Annually, it dropped by 15 percent (KD 3 million) from KD 19.99 million in December 2023.
