KUWAIT CITY, June 20: The total support disbursed by the Supply Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry saw a decline of 14.35 percent during the first four months of 2024, compared to the same period last year, and fell by about 19.1 million dinars from 133.2 million to 114.1 million, reports Al-Rai daily. The official data revealed that the support disbursed every month last April grew slightly by 0.2 percent and by about 52,000 dinars, rising from 25.055 million in March to 25.107 million in April.

In contrast, the support disbursed in April on an annual basis decreased by 40.7 percent and by about 17.23 million, up from 42.346 million in March 2023. The number of cumulative ration cards increased in April on an annual basis by 3 percent, with an increase of 7.8 thousand cards from 257.3 thousand in April 2023 to 265.14 thousand cumulative cards last April. The number of individuals benefiting from the cumulative provision also decreased on an annual basis by 1.5 percent, by about 34 thousand beneficiaries, from 2.24 million beneficiaries in April 2023 to 2.205 million last April.

The support provided by the Supply Department in the Ministry of Commerce is divided into three main sections: basic materials, children’s milk and nutrients, and construction materials. The total support disbursed for basic materials (combined) decreased during the 4 months of 2024 by 14.3 million dinars, or by 28.8 percent, from 49.6 million in the 4 months of 2023 to 35.3 million in the same period of 2024; it also decreased every month by 0.35 percent, and by about 28 thousand from 7.961 million in March to 7.933 million in April.

The support spent on milk and child nutrition decreased by about 598 thousand dinars, or by 11.3 percent, from 5.28 million in 4 months of 2023 to 4.68 million in the same period of 2024. This comes with a decrease in support every month by 13 percent, and by about 188 thousand, from 1.44 million in March to 1.251 million in April. The support disbursed for construction materials decreased by about 4.1 million dinars, or by 5.3 percent, from 78.25 million in 4 months of 2023 to 74.07 million in the same period of 2024, while support increased on a monthly basis by 1.7 percent, and by about 268 thousand, from 15.65 million in March to 15.923 million in April.