Cooking gas prices in Aden soar above 20,000 riyals amid severe shortages
ADEN, Aug. 29 (YPA) – The price of a cooking gas cylinder in Aden and the Saudi-controlled southern and eastern provinces of Yemen has soared to unprecedented levels, far beyond residents’ purchasing power, amid a complete shortage of supplies.
The crisis comes as popular movements and calls for escalation continue in southern Yemen over a systematic services war aimed at imposing political demands by the Saudi Special Committee.
The price of a cooking gas cylinder has exceeded 20,000 Yemeni rials, which equals $84.56, up from 18,000 rials just two days ago, amid complete silence from the Saudi-backed Aden government of Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani.
Long queues of residents and vehicles have continued for days outside filling stations in an attempt to obtain a single gas cylinder, while some return empty-handed. The shortage has reportedly been exacerbated by a reduction of 6,000 barrels per day in supplies from the Safer-based gas company, which is controlled by the Islah Party, without the reasons for the reduction being disclosed.
The Saudi Special Committee oversees several deliberately manufactured crises in Aden and other areas under Riyadh’s control, including shortages of household gas, deteriorating electricity and water services, and unpaid salaries, further worsening living conditions.
The severe gas crisis in Aden has intensified since the Southern Transitional Council (STC) announced an escalation phase against the Saudi presence and raised slogans calling for an end to foreign tutelage and interference in June.
Human rights activists accuse Saudi Arabia of using basic services as a tool to advance its political agenda among southern communities and impose political demands through the Special Committee.
The growing popular anger and calls to end Saudi tutelage come as Saudi authorities continue to detain a delegation affiliated with the STC, along with officials from several southern and Hadramout-based political and tribal groups, including Sheikh Amr bin Hubraish al-Ali, head of the Hadramout Tribal Alliance, who has reportedly been held in Riyadh since January.