Yemen faces challenges as missile attacks disrupt Ramadan festivities

Continuous missile attacks along the Red Sea are overshadowing Ramadan in conflict-ridden Yemen, leading to soaring prices, hindering access to traditional daily feasts

In Taez, a city besieged by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, father-of-five Amin Ghaleb leaves a grocery store empty-handed after haggling fruitlessly with the shopkeeper.

“I can’t afford to buy anything,” the 50-year-old tells Agence France-Presse (AFP), frowning as he folds his money into his pocket.

It’s a familiar tale in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country, already brought to its knees by nine years of war between the Iran-backed Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition.

Over the past four months, the Houthis have been harassing shipping in the Red Sea in protest at Israel’s war against Hamas, triggering American and British reprisal strikes.

The conflict in the commercially vital seaway has pushed up the cost of importing goods, exacerbating runaway inflation and raising fears that food supplies could run out after years of economic crisis.

“Prices have doubled, and goods are priced either in Saudi riyal or the dollar,” said Ghaleb, a government employee who earns about $35 a month.

“How am I supposed to pay rent, electricity, gas, water, food, breakfast, dinner, lunch, or clothing for the children?” he asked.

Slow sales

When Muslims break their daylong fasts with large evening meals, Ramadan usually means brisk business for Yemen’s shops.

However, customers were few and far between in the Taez market. Shopkeepers stood idly by, displaying vegetables, herbs, and grains in straw baskets outside their stores.

“We are being affected by the poor sales,” said Yousif Abduljaleel, a Taez merchant. “Some of our products are spoiling.”

Taez’s residents have suffered shortages of water, food, and humanitarian aid since the Houthis blocked all major roads connecting the city with the rest of the country in 2015.

Concern is now spreading among its inhabitants about the impact of the Red Sea attacks on bringing goods into Yemen, which imports 90% of its food and has one of the world’s most malnourished populations.

“Yemeni ports could stop receiving goods because of the high risk” of Houthi attacks, said Abdulwase al-Fatki, a Taez resident.

“This has created fears that food stocks will run out,” Fatki added.

Mohammed Al-Basha, a Yemen expert for the U.S.-based Navanti research group, said staple goods have become more expensive during Ramadan in areas controlled by Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

Basha said the price hikes are “affected by the ongoing Red Sea crisis” but also linked to higher demand during Ramadan, reduced humanitarian assistance, and a worsening economy.

‘No purchasing power’

In the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, northwest of Taez, where several we and U.K. reprisal strikes have hit, residents are also worried.

“There is no purchasing power,” said Abdulrahman Salam, a Hodeida merchant.

“If the crisis escalates, the prices will rise even more,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Hodeidah’s fishermen’s job has become a deadly trade.

Moussa Kulaim, a 50-year-old father of two, has been catching fish since he was 12. He earns between $4 and $40 for a day’s catch.

But these days, he is mainly coming up dry due to difficulty navigating Yemen’s highly militarised waters.

“It is the only source of livelihood for me and my children,” Kulaim told AFP.

“Despite the problems we face at sea, we enter for the sake of our livelihood and our children,” he said.

“We don’t want war; we don’t want trouble.”

Source: AFP

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