The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is a time marked by cultural traditions, community, and commerce in Egypt and around the world. This season, Cairo's artisans and shopkeepers who typically see a spike in Ramadan-themed gift sales are contending with an acute cost-of-living crisis, following last month's record core inflation rate of over 40 percent, and a year of currency devaluations in which the Egyptian pound lost about half its value. Photojournalist Hamada Elrasam has the story from Cairo.
Ramadan Arrives As Inflationary Pressures Burden Egyptians
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Amen Abulkheir, who just bought lantern keychains for his sisters, nephews, and nieces, says, “My family usually buys extra food and new clothes for Ramadan, but, this month, we still have lots of extra living expenses.” (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Abdulraheem (back), who, along with his coworker, Abdelnaby, has been crafting Ramadan lanterns for decades, says, “We heard from the local media that Egypt’s inflation rate is 40 percent, but we feel it as 400 percent.” (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
