A catastrophic reality in Yemen created by war
English - Sunday 19 July 2020 الساعة 05:02 pm
Aden, Newsyemen, private:
The international organizations warn of a humanitarian disaster that is difficult to contain in Yemen, driven by five years of conflict, economic decline, the collapse of public institutions and services, and the cessation of protection programs.
Yemen has witnessed successive economic crises since 2015, the riyal lost -250% of its value, from 215 riyals to the dollar in January 2015, to 750 riyals to the dollar in July 2020, and the prices of food and basic commodities multiplied 4 times, in line with the riyal inflation.
The protracted war led to a deeper energy problem, as fuel continues to rise, as the cost of 20 liters of diesel cost $ 7 before the war; it costs $ 40 today, and is difficult to obtain, even at stations.
Poverty rates have increased in general, as families spend an increasing proportion of income from food, which is forced to adopt additional negative coping strategies.
The World Bank's welfare analysis indicates that the poverty rate among Yemenis increases between 71% and 78%.
Three quarters of the population of Yemen, numbering 30 million, live on less than a dollar a day, and updated estimates of national accounts data indicated a decline in the average per capita income of GDP at current prices from $ 1247 in 2014 to $ 364 in 2019.
The situation is further complicated with the decline of resources, the division of economic institutions, the faltering oil and gas sector, the exacerbation of the phenomenon of poverty and unemployment, food insecurity, malnutrition and the deterioration of basic social services.
The overall macro indicators of the economy indicate that the existing authorities have failed to revive the economy, end the sources of corruption, provide employment opportunities, improve public services, and enhance financial resources to achieve financial stability.
The growth of humanitarian needs continues at alarming rates, with approximately 80% of the Yemeni population requiring humanitarian assistance, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
