by Murad Abdo
ADEN, Yemen, April 19 (Xinhua) -- As the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations draw near, Muslims around the world are shopping for new clothes, shoes, gifts, and sweets to welcome the festival that marks the end of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan.
However, in war-torn Yemen, the joy of the celebrations is dampened by the country's protracted conflicts and economic woes.
"We used to celebrate special occasions with new clothes and gifts for our loved ones as per our traditions. However, due to the economic challenges caused by the civil war, we have to forego these luxuries," Saleh Abu Ahmed, a father of three in the southern port city of Aden, told Xinhua.
Haitham Abdullah, a shop owner in Aden, echoed his remarks.
"Many people are struggling to afford necessities like food and medicine, let alone discretionary expenses like new clothes and gifts," he said.
Following years of deadly conflict, Yemen's currency has declined sharply in value, resulting in soaring prices of imported goods, which become unaffordable for most Yemenis.
"A suit that used to cost 50 U.S. dollars now costs more than 100 dollars. Prices of clothes, shoes, and perfumes have tripled over the past few years," said Um Marwan Rashed, a female teacher from Aden.
Intermittent salary payments for public sector employees have added to the misery, leaving many financially strained and unable to adequately prepare for things that are traditionally associated with Eid celebrations.
Mahmoud Bader, a 35-year-old civil servant from Aden shares his frustration as he faces yet another delay in his meager salary ahead of Eid, the much-awaited festival for his children.
"I have a wife and three children to support, and Eid is a time when we should be celebrating and enjoying ourselves. But the constant salary delays have left us in a dire financial situation. We are unable to afford necessities, let alone prepare for Eid.
The recent talks between the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia, the primary backer of Yemen's internationally recognized government, signaled a potential turning point in the long-standing conflict that has left the country devastated and on the brink of famine.
Hopes for a peaceful resolution to the conflict were sparked as the rare negotiations focused on renewing the ceasefire, reopening Sanaa airport, and lifting restrictions on Yemen's Red Sea port to facilitate humanitarian aid for millions of Yemenis facing food insecurity and inadequate healthcare.
Yemeni citizens long for permanent peace and economic recovery so they can restore their normal lives and celebrate Eid Al-Fitr with customary joy and enthusiasm.
"We hope the war ends and life returns to normal. Our children deserve to enjoy Eid like normal children around the world," says Aden resident Mohsen Shaiby.
Yemen has been mired in deadly military conflict since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally-recognized government out of the capital Sanaa.
The conflict brought the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of collapse, causing famine, skyrocketing prices, and widespread suffering as well as the displacement of millions. ■
