Kuwait says food stocks at highest level

Kuwait said yesterday that its strategic food stocks were at their highest level, in a message designed to reassure citizens after it joined a Saudi-led military operation in Yemen. “We are continually co-ordinating with the private sector to secure any additional quantities of any commodity,” Finance Minister Anas al-Saleh was quoted by state news agency Kuna as saying.  He said any rise in food prices on the back of regional turmoil would not be justified. Kuwait, which was reported to have deployed 15 fighter jets for the Yemen operation, is almost entirely dependent on the narrow shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz for imported food supplies. Iran has threatened in the past to block the Strait if it came under attack. Kuwait also said on Thursday it had raised security around its oil facilities inside and outside the country.