This year, the holy month of Ramadan arrives in Yemen as a heavy burden, not because of its inherent hardship, but because of the suffocating economic and living conditions that have transformed the rituals of this blessed month from one of joy and spirituality into one of anxiety and a grueling struggle for survival. This renewed suffering comes amidst the continued control of the Houthi group over the capital, Sana'a, and large swathes of northern Yemen, where they impose economic and administrative policies that have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, which the United Nations describes as the worst in the world.
Context of the crisis: economic decline and seasonal levies
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Yemen and the Houthi takeover of state institutions in late 2014, the Yemeni economy has witnessed an unprecedented collapse. With the arrival of each Ramadan, the suffering of citizens in areas controlled by the group intensifies due to the intensive tax collection campaigns imposed under various pretexts, including "Zakat" (Islamic alms) and "support for the war effort." This forces merchants to raise the prices of basic food commodities to compensate for losses, which directly impacts the average citizen, whose purchasing power has been almost entirely eroded.
Economic reports indicate that the division of financial institutions between Sana'a and Aden, the exchange rate disparity, and restrictions on the movement of goods have created an environment unfavorable to economic stability. In this context, Yemenis no longer look forward to Ramadan to celebrate its nights; rather, they now dread its arrival due to the basic necessities they cannot afford, given the years-long interruption of public sector salaries in Houthi-controlled areas.
The effects of unpaid salaries and the spread of poverty
The issue of unpaid salaries is one of the most significant factors that has turned the lives of Yemenis into a living hell. Hundreds of thousands of employees and their families live without a stable income, relying primarily on humanitarian aid, which has also dwindled recently due to a lack of international funding and restrictions imposed on relief organizations. This situation has led to widespread poverty and famine, with thousands of families unable to afford even a modest breakfast, thus stripping the holy month of its social significance based on solidarity and replacing it with a daily struggle for survival.
The social and humanitarian dimensions of the crisis
The repercussions of these policies are not limited to the economic sphere; they extend to the very fabric of Yemeni society. Traditional expressions of joy have vanished, and many Ramadan customs that once characterized Yemeni society have disappeared, replaced by scenes of misery and hardship. Observers believe that the Houthis' continued exploitation of religious occasions to impose further levies and restrict personal and commercial freedoms threatens to deepen the social divide and exacerbate public discontent at a time when Yemenis desperately need comprehensive political and economic solutions to end the war, restore state institutions, and reinstate the dignity of the citizen.
