Feature: Markets in Yemen sluggish ahead of Ramadan amid prolonged war, high prices

A customer shops for nuts at a public market in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, April 30, 2019. Several days ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the Yemenis, like other Muslims worldwide, flock to the local markets to prepare for the most valuable religious event. But the markets across the war-ravaged country, which usually thrive ahead of Ramadan due to a sharp increase in demand for various commodities, have seen sluggish business this year. The dire living conditions of many people in Yemen and other factors, including the decline of families' purchasing power, have negatively affected the business in Yemen's markets. (Xinhua/Murad Abdo)