by Murad Abdo
ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- As Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, draws near, markets in Yemen are quieter than usual. Soaring prices and falling incomes are putting a strain on residents as they get ready for the annual time of fasting, charity, and family reunions.
In previous years, the weeks leading up to Ramadan saw a noticeable increase in activity in Aden and other major cities. Markets would stay busy well into the night as families bought up essentials like flour, rice, sugar, cooking oil, and decorations for the holy month.
This Ramadan, however, shopkeepers have observed a noticeable decline in sales, with most customers purchasing only basic necessities in limited amounts due to the ongoing economic pressure.
"Before, families would come with long lists and buy in bulk," said Marwan Issa, a grocery store owner in South Yemen's Lahj province. "Now they calculate carefully and remove items one by one. Luxury goods have almost disappeared from demand."
The slowdown in sales is largely attributed to rising prices. Burkan Ali, a 45-year-old teacher in Aden, explained that his monthly salary of around 87,000 Yemeni rials (roughly 53 U.S. dollars) is barely sufficient to meet daily needs. Local market estimates suggest that the basic food essentials for a family during Ramadan can exceed 320,000 rials, an amount well beyond the means of many public sector workers.
"People are no longer preparing for Ramadan the way they used to," Ali said. "We used to plan ahead, buy special ingredients and gather as a family. Now we focus on the basics -- just enough for simple meals."
He said the prolonged economic downturn has left many of them struggling, as irregular or suspended salaries and rising living costs erode purchasing power. "When your income is uncertain, you cannot think about celebration," he added. "You think about survival."
Yemen has been mired in conflict since the Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa in the north in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year. The protracted war has resulted in one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.
The United Nations (UN) has warned that Yemen is facing another year of severe humanitarian crisis. UN projections indicate that over 22 million people will require assistance in 2026, an increase from 19.5 million last year.
In Aden's markets, a 25-kg bag of flour now costs about 23,000 Yemeni rials. For many government retirees, whose monthly pensions average roughly 30,000 rials, even basic staples consume most of their income, forcing them to purchase in small daily amounts rather than stocking up for the month.
"The atmosphere has changed," said Mohsen Nasser, a 60-year-old taxi driver from the south who supports a family of seven. "We haven't bought anything special for Ramadan this year. We barely manage our daily expenses."
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen Julien Harneis recently described Yemen's outlook as "extremely worrying," cautioning that conditions could further deteriorate.
Despite tighter budgets and quieter markets, some Yemenis still uphold the spirit of Ramadan within their means.
"Ramadan is not only about food," said Rajih Ali, a citizen in Yemen's southern province of Al-Dhalea. "It is about being together and finding moments of comfort despite the hardship. Even if our tables are simple, we hope to spend the month in peace and make the most of it." ■
