Yemen livestock buyers face higher prices ahead of Eid al-Adha

Livestock buyers in Yemen's capital Sanaa said prices for sheep, goats and cattle had risen sharply this year ahead of Eid al-Adha, adding pressure on families already struggling with weak purchasing power.

Markets in Sanaa were busy on Saturday (May 23), with cattle, sheep and goats on display as customers inspected animals before the Muslim holiday, when many families buy livestock for sacrifice.

Eid al-Adha, one of Islam's two main holidays, falls midway through next week and marks the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, when Muslims slaughter animals - to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God's command - often distributing meat to the poor.

    Livestock market organiser Nabil al-Awami said the supply of cows and sheep was better than last year, with more local animals raised this season.

But some customers said higher prices were making purchases difficult.

"Prices have risen in an unreasonable way," said Abdullah Haider al-Awadhi, a customer at the market. "People are struggling, and their purchasing power is very weak."

Awadhi said a goat he bought last year for about 90,000 Yemeni rials, around $170, was now selling for 130,000 to 140,000 rials, around $245 to $265.

The war and the closure of the strait of Hormuz have led to supply chain shocks and an increase in the price of oil that has had knock-on effects across the world economy, with prices of many goods increasing.

Another customer, Abdel Majid al-Wazir, said prices had increased by about 30% to 40%, with bulls that previously sold for about 500,000 Yemeni rials, around $943, now priced at 700,000 to 900,000 rials, around $1,320 to $1,700.

"We wish that people would cooperate to buy sheep and cattle, for every village to cooperate and buy one or two bulls," he said.

Production: Adel Al Khader, Abdulrahman al-Ansi, Imad Creidi/Reuters