Yemeni Families receive Eid with happiness, but many poor families consider it a burden with all its requirements such as buying new clothes for children. After one month worrying about purchasing enough food for Ramadan every night, families immediately have to consider purchasing items for Eid.

“I was forced to borrow YR 50,000 from one of my relatives in order to buy Eid clothes for my children,” Adel Al-Salal, a father of six children, said. “The later we buy Eid clothes, the more expensive they become.”

Al-Salal said buying clothes for Eid is a great concern, but after getting them, he’s not finished shopping. He must then purchase nuts and fruit for the Eid celebration.

Many families believe that they need more money at Eid to buy clothes, desserts, nuts and to travel so they can visit their relatives.

Abdullah Ahmed Shoa’ai, a Yemeni resident, is also worried about costs of Eid clothes. With his paycheck, he went shopping to buy clothes for his three children.

“Children don’t understand what it means to say, ‘to be healthy and sound in Eid is the most important thing.’ For them, Eid is represented by new clothes, desserts and entertainment,” he said.

“I still need money to buy desserts and to go visit my relatives,” he added.

Shoa’ai hopes that he receives a Ramadan bonus. If not, he needs to borrow money to cover the expenses and then pay it back when getting his August salary.

Some families have nobody to support them and stand by their side. Um Mahmoud, a widow, has two boys and two girls.

“So far I haven’t bought Eid clothes for my children,” she said. “I paid the house rent and water and electricity invoice with the money I had in Ramadan.”

“I registered my name in a charity association, and they promised to provide Eid clothes for my children,” Mahmoud said.

She said she had nothing at the start of Ramadan, but good people gave to her. Now, she hopes that they will stand by her side again.