The deteriorating living conditions in Yemen, widespread hunger and poverty, and lack of pay have forced thousands of Yemenis to resort to pawning household goods to pay for food and other basic needs.
This came amid UN reports asserting that the deterioration of food security in Yemen will continue during August, for the third month in a row.
Yemen has been living in difficult and harsh humanitarian conditions for nine years, imposed by the Houthi coup militia on the people.
Abdul Qawi, a former officer in the Yemeni army, told Asharq Al-Awsat that a few days ago he was forced to pawn his military ID to the owner of a restaurant in Sanaa, in return for a meal worth $5 to feed his family of five children.
He said his family’s living conditions have deteriorated since his salary was cut off several years ago.
Abdul Qawi started to look for another job but could not find employment. Before the war in Yemen, his financial situation was way better. He received a monthly salary, with some incentives, equivalent to $170, enough to cover his needs.
Abdul Qawi is one of the thousands of Yemenis unable to provide the minimum level of basic food for their families, and therefore, were forced to resort to pawning personal and home belongings in exchange of food and other basic needs.
Residents in Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled cities speak about the spread of this phenomenon. They said Yemenis deposit their personal belongings with merchants, in return for obtaining goods or providing some basic services as they have no alternative way to borrow money.
When the person doesn't repay the loan during the redemption period, the pawnbroker can sell the deposited item to recover the cash.
Asharq Al-Awsat visited shops in the capital and found that residents mainly pawned their watches, eyeglasses, personal and family cards, passports, mobile phones and arms.
Merchants said residents on low incomes are resorting to pawning household goods to pay for food amid the dire economic conditions. “There are thousands of items deposited by residents for pawning. Some items were placed a long time ago and their owners did not come to retrieve them,” they said.
The merchants told Asharq Al-Awsat they are no longer able to receive more pawns particularly after having suffered financial deficits and difficulties in supplying goods to their shops.
Meanwhile, FAO said in a report released last week that in June 2023, 38 percent of the surveyed households in Yemen experienced food insecurity equivalent to above IPC Phase 3+ (IPC Acute Malnutrition Scale).
It said the proportion of households resorting to food-based coping strategies marginally deteriorated by 1 percentage point in June 2023 than during late May 2023.
