Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) follows with deep concern the continued deterioration of the economic and humanitarian situation Yemen has recently been experiencing due to the armed conflict raging on in more than one governorate, as well as the sea and aerial bombardment on the country through the so-called “Decisive Storm”.
The Center said in a statement that the Yemeni economy has suffered $ I Billion in losses since the start of the airstrikes on Yemen on March 26, not to mention the military losses. The Yemeni economy has also suffered a total recession , with the hard currency vanishing into the blue and sea and air ports are out of work now.
It expected that the numbers of citizens are in dire need of urgent humanitarian assistance has increased to 12 million, adding that the rate of poverty has raised to 60% among those living on less than $ 2 a day.
It monitored the rise in food prices in Sana’a, Hodeida, Taiz, Aden, and a number of Yemeni governorates, with citizens buying large quantities of food items, and the monopoly by some traders of basic commodities in anticipation of further price hikes in the next upcoming days.
It expressed surprise over the sharp price increase of basic items, including wheat, flour and sugar, in Taiz at a rate of about 20-40%, with the price of wheat flour hitting the record high of YR 7,000 per bag or equivalent to $ 23 as opposed to $ 24 in the previous months. It demanded the local authorities to shoulder their responsibility of taking punitive measures against the profiteers. In Hodeida, for instance, the prices of food items, including wheat flour and sugar, have increased 15% as opposed to 10% in Sana’a.
It warned the traders of increasing the prices of food items and hiding the basic commodities during this very critical stage, urging citizens not to stock upon food stuffs, as the basic items in stock are sufficient for six months under normal circumstances. It highlighted that citizens were scared into buying large quantities of basic food items, as some traders are monopolizing some items, which resulted in many people, mainly the poor, having no access to such commodities.
It highly praised Hayel Saeed Anam trading group, the largest industrial and trading group in Yemen, for not raising the prices of home-made and imported products.
It expressed deep regret over the worsening humanitarian conditions which Aden residents are currently enduring due to the raging armed confrontations, demanding the conflict parties to allow aid and rescue workers into the city to deliver basic food, and medicine to the worst-affected people.
It revealed that a number of besieged poor families have no access to basic food items due to the closure of businesses and indiscriminate shelling, pointing out that government employees haven’t received their salaries and banks and official authorities are still closed, which further aggravated the living conditions of residents.
It appealed to international aid agencies to play their role of extending the necessary humanitarian assistance to the needy in war zones, urging all parties to cease hostilities.
Oil products are in short supply, which threatened the collapse of economy, given that the sea and air ports are closed down, it maintained, noting that the products running transport companies and power facilities are no longer imported from abroad.
SEMC is a NGO that works towards a successful and transparent economy by spreading awareness of economic issues, boosting transparency and citizens’ involvement in decision-making. It seeks to achieve the economic empowerment of men and women, reduction of conflicts, and creation of professional media.
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