News - Yemen: The city of Aden, which is under Saudi-Emirati occupation, witnessed a significant women's demonstration on Saturday, denouncing the deterioration of living, and economic conditions and the sharp decline of the national currency.

During the protest, the demonstrators attributed the collapse of living and economic conditions in the occupied southern provinces and regions to the Saudi-Emirati occupation and the coalition of aggression. They specifically pointed to the devaluation of the local currency against foreign currencies, leading to soaring prices and a notable increase in the costs of essential food items. This has compounded the challenges faced by residents dealing with low wages, delayed salaries, and escalating rates of poverty and unemployment.

Protesters deplored the dire living and service conditions experienced by the residents of occupied Aden, asserting that a majority of them are grappling with hunger and poverty at unprecedented levels, reminiscent of a famine not witnessed since the city's inception. 

Participants raised Palestinian flags and voiced slogans in support and solidarity with the people of Gaza, who are facing heinous crimes and a genocidal war by the savage Zionist entity. They condemned the crimes committed by the US-Zionist aggression against the Palestinian people, citing violations of human rights and international humanitarian laws.

In response to the catastrophic collapse of the local currency, exchange companies and centers in Aden declared the suspension of their operations last week. This crisis unfolded as the exchange rate of one US dollar soared past 1600 Yemeni riyals, significantly impacting the prices of essential commodities like food and medicine.

The "Union of Exchange Companies" in Aden released a statement announcing an open strike to protest the currency collapse. The statement condemned the perceived indifference of the pro-aggression government and the Aden branch of the Central Bank to the depreciation of the Yemeni rial against foreign currencies. Criticism was directed at the lack of attention, particularly given that salaries of ministers and officials are reportedly paid in US dollars.

Sources attribute the surge in foreign currency prices to the failure of the Saudi-backed government to implement necessary economic measures to stabilize the local currency's value. This failure is linked to the printing of nearly 6 trillion Yemeni rials without adequate cash cover in recent years.

The economic collapse has severely impacted the living conditions of citizens in Aden and other southern provinces, reaching a point where the government is unable to fulfill its obligation to pay teachers' salaries for the last month in Aden. This dire situation highlights the urgent need for comprehensive economic reforms and intervention to address the currency crisis and mitigate its repercussions on the population.
 

#Yemen #Protest #Aden #Occupied Southern Governorates #Currency Collapse About 2 months