BEIRUT, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Minister of Economy and Trade Amin Salam warned Wednesday that Lebanon would face a shortage of wheat if the central bank fails to release sufficient funds for purchasing it.

       "The cabinet urged the central bank to open lines of credit for the purchase of wheat," Salam in a statement by the Council of Ministers.

       Lebanon hoards over 50,000 tonnes of wheat, a quantity merely sufficient for one month, said the minister.

       Salam added that Lebanon is working with the World Bank on a program that will provide the country with wheat and some essential food items to cover a period of six to eight months.

       Lebanon has been suffering from an unprecedented financial crisis amid a shortage of U.S. currency reserves, threatening its ability to import its basic food needs in the near future.

       The country imports more than 85 percent of its wheat needs from Russia and Ukraine.