STORY: Civil war, inflation dampen festive mood as Yemenis prepare for Ramadan
SHOOTING TIME: March 6, 2024
DATELINE: March 10, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:47
LOCATION: Sanaa
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of consumers shopping for Ramadan in a supermarket in Sanaa
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): HAFIDH AL-FAQEH, Supermarket manager
3. various of shopping in a supermarket
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ADEL SAID, Local consumer
5. various of shopping in a supermarket
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): ADEL SAID, Local consumer
7. various of shoppers checking out

STORYLINE:

As Ramadan approaches, the streets of Sanaa, Yemen's capital, are bustling with shoppers preparing for the sacred month of fasting.

However, the lingering effects of civil war and surging inflation have cast a pall over the season's customary joy.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): HAFIDH AL-FAQEH, Supermarket manager
"In front of the hardships faced by the community during the years of war and blockade, we have introduced discounted pricing to help our customers afford their purchases amid the preparation for Ramadan."
   
The conflict, embargo, and monetary collapse have sent prices soaring, plunging a majority of Yemenis into extreme poverty. For many, survival hinges on international assistance.
   
The World Food Program (WFP) has sounded the alarm on Yemen's hunger crisis, with approximately 17 million individuals struggling to secure adequate nourishment.

The WFP's website reveals a grim reality: nearly one in three Yemeni families subsist on meager diets, seldom able to afford staples like legumes, vegetables, fruits, dairy, or meat.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ADEL SAID, Local consumer
"Everyone's wallets are feeling the pinch because salaries aren't coming through. We're all just scraping by, buying only the bare essentials."

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthi rebels fighting against the internationally recognized government and its allies, mainly a Saudi Arabia-led coalition.

The war disrupted Yemen's food supply chain and caused widespread famine, bringing the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of collapse.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): ADEL SAID, Local consumer
"We're all hoping for peace and a return to stability, just like the old days. Despite a tacit truce, we're still stuck in a war and blockade, and without our salaries being paid, it doesn't feel like much has changed for the better."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sanaa.
(XHTV)