Today's Edition
DINA MAHMOUD (ADEN, LONDON)
Even staple items like dates may be absent from Yemeni Iftar tables this Ramadan, as the country grapples with soaring food prices amid a decrease in the supply of goods.
This situation is compounded by the declining purchasing power of millions affected by a decade-long conflict in Yemen. and the Houthi group’s attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, further straining the already dire circumstances.
The ongoing conflict and these assaults are intensifying pressures on Yemenis, who find themselves increasingly unable to meet basic needs during the holy month of Ramadan. Many are struggling to earn a livelihood or receive their salaries due to widespread institutional paralysis, a crisis that has persisted since late 2014.
The quantity of goods reaching Yemen by sea is declining, worsened by the escalation of Houthi attacks on ships navigating the Bab El-Mandab strait, indifferent to the deteriorating living and humanitarian conditions in Yemen. A United Nations report last month highlighted that nearly half the population, over 17.5 million people face severe food insecurity this year.
As the local currency plummets, with the exchange rate for one US dollar reaching 1640 Yemeni riyals in some regions recently, procuring Ramadan essentials has turned into a formidable challenge for many. The economic crunch has forced most to limit purchases to basic necessities, including items once considered indispensable for Ramadan, such as dates.
Recent estimates show that food prices in Yemen have surged by up to 15%, pushing the cost of one litre of cooking oil to two US dollars and flour to over one dollar per kilogram, in a country where the average monthly income barely reaches $60.
This economic strain has led many Yemeni consumers to buy essential foodstuffs in smaller quantities than before, prioritising affordability and seeking discounted products in grocery stores.
Yemeni citizens are vocal about the unbearable price hikes, especially during Ramadan, pointing out that even middle-income families are now restricted to purchasing only the essentials, foregoing any form of luxury previously enjoyed during the fasting month.
This sentiment was echoed in a video report by Deutsche Welle on its English-language website, where Yemenis stated that they now buy only what they can afford of food products, such as pasta and a few other items, regardless of what they actually wanted to obtain.
