A vendor in the Kurdistan Region fills a customer’s bag with sugar during a market transaction
Warning against price gouging
Kurdistan Region says food stocks sufficient for six months as Iran and Israel trade blows
ERBIL — Authorities in the Kurdistan Region said Monday that food and essential supplies remain sufficient to meet residents’ needs for at least six months, urging the public to avoid panic buying amid ongoing regional tensions.
Nawzad Sheikh Kamil, director general of trade for the Kurdistan Region, told reporters that storage facilities are stable and trade activity is proceeding normally.
“There is enough food and essential goods in stock to meet the needs of the Region’s population for six months,” he said during a press conference. “If borders are closed, there will still not be a major impact on local markets.”
He noted that most goods imported from Iran are fruits and vegetables, which are currently available through local sources due to the growing season.
“Inspection committees are actively monitoring market conditions,” Kamil added. “In addition to quality checks, they are also watching for price hikes and efforts to hoard goods. Anyone found stockpiling food will be penalized.”
The Kurdistan Region relies heavily on imports through border crossings with Iran and Turkey. Officials said current food reserves across warehouses and commercial centers are sufficient to cover foreseeable demand.
It comes after authorities in Erbil on Saturday urged residents not to panic over supplies, saying trade and border activity remained normal despite tensions following Israeli strikes on Iran. Governor Omed Khoshnaw at the time warned against price manipulation and emphasized that there was no shortage of goods or disruption in imports.
