Aden – Yemenis in the southern and eastern districts of the country are suffering of liquidity crisis which adds more problems to their already troubled life. Because of the economic situation, many Yemenis were not able to celebrate Eid al-Adha on Monday or buy new clothes for their children.
Engineer Rafqi Kassem told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that he hadn’t received his salary for two months. He added that the situation is becoming worse with over 60,000 retired in Aden, Lahij, and Abyan not receiving their pensions.
Kassem called upon the authorities to organize this matter saying that citizens of Aden have never witnessed such a tough situation resulting from the post office’s systems. He stressed that governors should follow up on this matter which deprived a wide range of citizens from the salaries they rely on.
Journalist Ahmad Yeslam said that about 30,000 employees and 400 retired individuals in Abyan are frustrated.
Yeslam described the shock these people felt when they discovered that they weren’t going to receive their salaries, which meant not being able to buy the usual things for Eid or new clothes for their kids.
The journalist said that the current situation is no longer acceptable and the deficit at the central bank should be solved.
He added that the liquidity crisis was reflected on the market and the price of cattle has decreased given that most of Abyan citizens raise their own.
During his tour in Abyan streets, Yeslam noticed that children are heartbroken that most of them couldn’t buy new clothes for Adha.
Doctor Salem al-Kumeri of al-Muhra district told Asharq Al-Awsat that many of military personnel and civilians didn’t receive their salary for August which reflected badly on their Eid’s celebration. He added that all of Houf district employees didn’t get their wages, including employees of al-Ghida airport and the telecommunication institution.
Kumeri explained that 1500 citizens not receiving their payments had an impact on their families and local community especially that many businesses and investments were shut down due to the ongoing war.
Brigadier General Abbas al-Shaeri said that he feels sad for the current situation in the country and the struggles that the Yemeni citizens have to endure daily. He added that the Yemeni citizen is currently between the hammer of legitimacy and the anvil of Houthis and Saleh.
The brigadier called for the interference of the international community to help end Yemenis’ distress and the ravaging war in the country.
Shaeri added that it is important to find a solution that all parties agree on to prevent a long-term civil war.
In Daleh, south of Yemen, director of the post general committee, Sami al-Borti told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that about one million dollars has been paid in salaries to retired and members of the ministry of defense and interior affairs.
He confirmed that public sector employees were paid before Adha and the salaries reached a total of 1,600,000 dollars. Yet, due to the liquidity crisis, the post office wasn’t able to cash about 800,000 dollars. The amount will be cashed after the Eid, if Yemeni banks acquire the money.