STORY: Libyans struggle to celebrate Eid al-Adha as livestock price increases
SHOOTING TIME: June 11, 2024
DATELINE: June 15, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:43
LOCATION: Tripoli
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the livestock market
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MILUD EHBEL, Libyan citizen and resident of Tripoli
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JAMAL ABU-JARIDA, Livestock merchant from Khoms
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MOHAMED ABDUL-FATTAH, Libyan citizen and resident of Tripoli
5. various of the livestock market

STORYLINE:

Libyans are struggling with unexpectedly high prices of livestock as the country is embracing the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.

According to Islamic traditions, Muslim families usually buy a sheep, goat, or cattle as a sacrifice in the early morning of Eid al-Adha and distribute the meat to the poor as a charity gift.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MILUD EHBEL, Libyan citizen and resident of Tripoli
"I came to the market today to check the prices of sheep. However, the prices are very high, beyond the financial ability of most people. There is no cash in local banks also. So, the people are struggling financially to celebrate this occasion. I hope things get better soon."

However, this year, sheep prices have surged significantly, ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 dinars, about 300 to 550 U.S. dollars in the parallel market. This marks nearly a threefold increase over the past five years.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JAMAL ABU-JARIDA, Livestock merchant from Khoms
"The prices are high mainly due to the increase of the livestock feed. The prices keep increasing each year. We still hope that things get better soon."

Experts say that the increase in livestock prices was mainly due to the high cost of fodder, the main food for livestock, especially in light of the drought witnessed in the grazing areas of the rural regions.

Libya's economy has been struggling due to years of armed conflict and political instability. The value of local currency keeps declining against foreign currencies in the parallel market.

In the meantime, Libyan banks are experiencing a severe liquidity shortage, resulting in long lines as people wait to withdraw limited amounts of cash. This exacerbates the difficulties faced by ordinary Libyans in purchasing essential goods.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MOHAMED ABDUL-FATTAH, Libyan citizen and resident of Tripoli
"We are now at the sheep market. I was lucky enough to be able to buy a sheep, so that I could celebrate this religious occasion. The prices are high because the prices of livestock feed is high and there is lack of rain in that caused dryness to the livestock grazing areas. There is also the problem of lack of cash in local banks in the country."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tripoli.
(XHTV)