Economy

Ramadan Arrives Amid Rising Prices... Traditional Dishes Disappear!

Ramadan Arrives Amid Rising Prices... Traditional Dishes Disappear!

With the sunrise on Saturday, the holy month of Ramadan has arrived in most parts of the Middle East, but this year is different. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has cast a shadow over energy and food prices, impacting the food tables and family gatherings that are traditional during this month. From Iraq to Syria, Lebanon, and even Egypt, Sudan, and Yemen, one concern has troubled millions of fasting individuals: the rise in prices and the cost of living.

**Cheaper Alternatives**

In Lebanon, where an unprecedented economic crisis has diminished the local currency's purchasing power by 90%, and in Syria, still suffering from years of war, displacement, devastation, and sanctions, many traditional dishes have disappeared from Muslim tables, replaced by cheaper alternatives. Many families have also given up famous fasting sweets due to their high prices and have opted for less expensive juices. Some neighborhoods and streets have notably lacked the decorations that once announced the arrival of the holy month.

**Wheat and Flour**

The situation is similar in Iraq, Sudan, and Egypt, where the Ukrainian-Russian crisis has significantly impacted prices for flour, wheat, and other staples. Ukraine and Russia account for a third of the global wheat and barley exports that Middle Eastern countries rely on to feed millions living on subsidized bread and inexpensive pasta. The two countries are also major exporters of other grains and sunflower seed oil used in cooking.

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