Aden faces deepening humanitarian crisis ahead of Eid al-Adha

ADEN, May 23 (YPA) – Residents in Aden and other provinces under Saudi-backed control are facing a worsening humanitarian and living crisis as Eid al-Adha approaches, amid widespread inability to secure basic needs due to continued salary delays and deteriorating public services.

Signs of Eid celebrations have largely vanished amid a sharp deterioration in household purchasing power and market stagnation, following a government decision to raise the customs exchange rate from 750 to 1,550 riyals per US dollar, with expected severe economic fallout in the coming weeks.

Residents are facing severe financial hardship, with many unable to afford Eid sacrifices, children’s clothing, and basic needs, as rising prices and months of unpaid salaries continue to erode household incomes. Many families have been forced to prioritize securing food and drinking water over holiday celebrations.

The humanitarian situation has sharply deteriorated amid ongoing service crises, with Aden suffering power outages exceeding 16 hours a day, severe gas shortages, and record-high fuel prices, all of which have deepened daily hardship under extreme heat amid the failure of the Saudi-backed government.

In response, public calls have increased urging the Saudi-backed government to urgently pay overdue salaries and implement lasting solutions to the collapsing service sector.

Observers and activists have warned that continued deterioration during the holiday period could trigger social unrest, as indicators of extreme poverty rise among large segments of the population.

Aden remains in a tense state of anticipation as the worsening economic crisis deepens its grip on the city, fueling fears that Eid will once again pass as a period of hardship rather than celebration.

@E.Y.M