Ethiopia's Coptic New Year celebrations overshadowed by economic concerns and inflation

Описание: (12 Sep 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - 11 September 2023
1. Tracking shot from inside a car of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2. Busy street with people walking
3. Women singing traditional New Year songs in the street
4. Various of women singing
5. Bustling market
6. Various of market, chickens
7. Adanech Melese, a single mother of one, shopping for chicken and onions with child on her back
8. Various of Melese in the market
9. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Adanech Melese, resident:
"I came to purchase some onions, but they are quoting prices of 70 to 75 birr (1.25-1.35 US dollars), which I cannot afford, so I have decided to leave them. Even the chickens are quite expensive, with prices ranging from 1200 to 1300 birr (21-23 US dollars). The smaller female chickens are said to be priced at 600 to 650 birr (10-12 US dollars). I had hoped to enjoy the holiday within my budget, but unfortunately, the prices are beyond my means."
10. Wide of road
11. Costantinos Berhe, Ethiopian Economist, sitting at desk
12. Various of Berhe
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Costantinos Berhe, economist:
‘‘Talking about the inflation, I don’t know if you call it an inflation. I think the proper name would be probably some hyperinflation or stagflation, where inflation has been raging between 30 and 40 percent for the last four five years. So, this has its basis on changes in the exchange rate where the country is importing more than 20-billion-dollar worth of commodities and services. And it is exporting also very limited items.’’
14. Various of Berhe
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Costantinos Berhe, economist:
‘‘This is a war economy now in Ethiopia. And in a war economy, commodities tend to be scarce. The number of people in the productive sector decreases so much as we have the conflict zones that will be excluded from production. And, the third thing is the government’s budgets tend to inflate for military expenditure.’’
16. Various of market scenes
17. Street shots, with a building showing the year 2016, the year Ethiopians are celebrating
18. Various of street scenes
19. Young women singing traditional New Year songs inside a cafeteria, collecting money as reward
20. Various of women singing
21. Wide of concert for the New Year, featuring young dancers performing various traditional dances on stage
22. Various of performance



STORYLINE:
Ethiopians started celebrations marking the Coptic New Year, a cherished event steeped in rich tradition and culture.

However, the festivities are tinged with a sombre undertone as they are overshadowed by the daunting challenges brought about by soaring inflation, a consequence of ongoing political and economic instability in the nation.

Venturing into Addis Ababa, the bustling capital city and the heart of its vibrant marketplaces, the impact of inflation becomes evident.

The streets are adorned with colourful stalls that offer a fleeting glimpse of the holiday spirit.

Yet, beneath the festive facade, the prices of essential groceries such as onions, chickens, and spices reflect a harsh reality. Shoppers faces were marked by surprise and concern, scrutinizing the market for a good deal.

Adanech Melese is a single mother of one. She used to make a living by selling vegetables on the streets of Addis Ababa.

However, she has had to put that livelihood on hold as the soaring prices of vegetables from distributors have rendered her business unsustainable.




Despite the adversity, Ethiopians remain steadfast in their determination to celebrate the New Year with passion.









Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...