Egyptians hit by soaring food prices as crisis bites

Egyptians hit by soaring food prices as crisis bites

CAIRO: Public anger has been growing for months in Egypt over a severe dollar crunch and soaring food prices. But for many a money-saving tip from a state body has been the last straw. As families have struggled to purchase household staples, an Egyptian government agency praised an alternative, cheap protein source-“chicken feet, good for the body and the budget”.

The advice drew widespread scorn on social media while lawmaker Karim Al-Sadat slammed it as “divorced from the reality of the crisis”. The anger reflects the hardships of many in the Arab world’s most populous nation, which recently had to ask for a $3 billion loan programme from the International Monetary Fund.

“The bread I used to buy for one Egyptian pound now costs three,” said Rehab, 34, at a Cairo bakery, asking not to be named in full. “My husband makes 6,000 pounds ($242) a month, which used to last us all month but now runs out in 10 days.” In a country heavily reliant on food imports, prices have also shot up for staples such as cooking oil and legumes, putting the financial squeeze on many of Egypt’s 104 million people.

Rationing signs in big supermarkets now warn customers they can