Yemen and other Arab and Islamic world countries celebrate next Wednesday, December 19, the first day of Al-Adha Eid after this was officially announced by Saudi Arabia's Supreme Judicial Council.

However, this year's Eid in Yemen is different as there is no more happiness and pleasure because of the deteriorating economic situation, price hikes and increased rates of the poor people.

It has no flavor and it shapes a further burden on citizens who already have enough. The Eid's demands increase and the bill doubles under no resources for income, coupled with salaries' deferral which causes more problems to public sector servants.

Unlike previous Eids, Sana'a markets have been empty and just very few shoppers have been seen in this market or that. Mohammed Ali, who trades in confectionery and raisin, assures the market is sniffing a recession.

"I have not predicted such a recession, and I have not sold what covers for my daily expenses since the early morning. It seems the confectionary and raisin would spoil this year," said Ali. "Over the last years, I used to buy my commodity during the few weeks before the Eid and towards the last week I would have sold the whole thing and settled my debts for merchants; however, everything is different this year and it seems I will lose."

He added, "My customers comprise rich and working people. Just 30 percent of them bought Eid confectionary while 70 percent left home without buying anything."

Sources indicate that over seven millions are unable to buy Eid sacrifices and depend on donations granted by the charitable societies. Al-Saleh Social Fund for Development tries to resolve the problem by providing 27,000 clothing and 7,000 sacrifices. However, the question remains what this number covers up for when the number of the poor people is seven million.

When we moved into the cattle market, we found many butchers armed with their knives and other tools used for slaughtering while others were having sticks as if they were in a wrestling ring.

Anyone who bought some cattle and wanted to return it back will find difficulty in getting back his money. Voices rise and slow down under the shouts of mediators and the sound of knives. When unable to restore money, the buyer is forced to take what he bought and leaves the market damning the day in which he came to buy his sacrifice.  

All people, including traders, buyers and mediators stress that cattle prices are too high; however, people are forced to buy. "This is Eid and there should be a sacrifice, even if you borrow money or sell your wife jewels," said a citizen.

According to traders, a camel is sold against YR 250,000, while an ox is sold at YR 80,000 to 120,000 and the prices of sheep and goats are between YR 20,000 to 30,000, hinting the cheapest sheep are those imported from Somalia and the Horn of Africa which are sold against YR 15,000 to 20,000. Thus, buying a cattle head will cost a public servant his month-long salary.

With rampage of poverty, gladness has left the children's faces especially when their fathers bought a head of sheep with the whole salary, leaving nothing for clothing. Thus, they are forced to dress in the same clothes worn in the Al-Fittr Eid.

For rich people, the matter is different as they have already reserved hotels and prepared their cars to spend the Eid vacation in Aden, Al-Hodeidah or Al-Mukalla. Their children are happy with cloths bought from first class malls and tickets booked for enjoying their times in the parks.