Yemen: Severe gas crisis hits Aden and Lahj... long queues and skyrocketing prices.
Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special
Aden and Lahj governorates have witnessed a severe gas crisis since the beginning of December, amid a lack of the vital commodity in the markets and long queues in front of filling stations, which has sparked a wave of anger and suffering among citizens. According to eyewitnesses, dozens of stations closed their doors under the pretext of running out of stock, while citizens were forced to search for hours for cooking gas cylinders, in a scene that brought back memories of previous fuel crises. One citizen said: "We move from neighborhood to neighborhood in search of gas... and most stations are closed or selling at exorbitant prices." Vehicle drivers were not in a better situation, as some of them mentioned that they waited for long hours in huge queues, especially in front of the Al-Masry station in Al-Arish, where more than 200 cars lined up in one queue last Tuesday evening. Many drivers have become dependent on electronic platforms and social media networks to monitor the stations where gas is available, before they become crowded with vehicles and turn into hotbeds of chaos and quarrels. Meanwhile, some station owners exploited the crisis and raised the price per liter from 425 riyals to 570 riyals, while others temporarily closed their facilities and then resumed selling at prices that violated the law, reaching 11,500 riyals per gas cylinder, according to local reports. The escalating crisis has prompted activists and citizens to demand that local authorities and the government activate oversight of the stations and hold manipulators accountable, warning that the continuation of this suffocation will directly affect the lives of citizens, whether in homes or at the level of transportation. Observers fear that the lack of transparency in distribution and weak oversight will lead to a worsening of the crisis in the coming weeks, unless prices are controlled, fair distribution is ensured, and the required quantities are pumped regularly.
