Angry Protests in Aden Against the Rise of Fuel Prices

عربي

On Sunday night and today's morning, several districts in the Southern capital city of Aden witnessed protests against increasing fuel price and the deterioration of services. 

South24 correspondent in Aden reported that protesters blocked a main road in the city of Crater this morning which leads to Al-Maashiq Palace, the main government headquarter. Moreover, demonstrators set tires on fire in several streets in Al-Mansoura. 

The protest came after the price of a fuel (petrol) jerrycan reached 26,000 Yemeni riyals with a 14% increase. 

A union source in the Yemen Petroleum Company in Aden told "South24" that "the new fuel price increase is so far an unofficial one which is being applied only by private fuel stations.

The company denied that it intends to increase fuel prices. It said late Sunday that it pumped half a million liters of petrol into its affiliated fuel stations. 

According to the company's statement, the price of one liter will be at the level of 990 riyals while a 20 liters jerrycan will be sold at 19,800 riyals.

Meanwhile, the price of the local currency "the riyal" decreases to record low levels against foreign currencies for the first time since the establishment of the PLC on April 7th, 2022. 

Banking resources told "South24" that the price of one dollar reached the level of 1082 riyals on Monday, and exceeded 1100 riyals in some currency exchange outlets. 

The Southern areas, where the internationally recognized government reside, have experienced a wide deterioration in living and services. The KSA and the UAE announced their intention to support the Yemeni  Central Bank and the government with 3 billion dollars to improve the economic conditions. However, those promises have not yet been fulfilled.

Earlier this month, the STC called the Yemeni government to carry out its duties in providing and improving services to citizens.

In Yemen, the current level of hunger is unprecedented and causes severe suffering to millions of people. According to the World Food Program, 17.4 million Yemenis suffer from food insecurity, and the number is expected to reach 19 million by December 2022.