Divergent currency values make life even harder in Yemen
Yemenis continue to bear the brunt of the war, including a devastated economy and banknotes that may have no value depending on which part of the country they visit.
A national currency has the same value nationwide, but in Yemen, that is no longer the case. The currency has different values depending on the banknote's date of printing, its color and design. Such a reality is one of several ordeals created by the war.
Over the last four years, the UN-recognized government has printed currency that altered the look and color of the Yemeni rial banknotes. Such a move has invited daily hurdles for civilians in Yemen, particularly after the Houthis banned the freshly printed bills.
A Yemeni traveling from the south to the north needs to be ready with the Houthi-approved banknotes or a hard currency such as the US dollar or the Saudi rial. With the government-printed money, nothing can be bought in Houthi-run areas.
Mohammed Naji, a 28-year-old university student, lately arrived in Aden. He had been abroad for five years. Upon exiting the Airport, he exchanged $100 to cover the expenses during his one-night stay in Aden.
