Egypt Prepares for Eid Amidst Economic Insecurity 

Since Russia invaded Ukraine and disrupted global food and energy supply chains, Egypt’s Cairo Chamber of Commerce says consumer demand for meat is 50% lower than last year, with some livestock prices soaring by 30% or more. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

In accordance with the Islamic tradition of slaughtering livestock during the four-day Eid al-Adha festival, Sayyed, a father of three, says, “I’m buying meat to distribute among families who can’t afford it.” Cairo, July 5, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Ali, a butcher, says, “For now, the market is flourishing, because most of these people didn’t buy any meat from me over the last month. They were saving up for the feast.” Cairo, July 5, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Families wait for loaves of subsidized bread. The World Bank says its loan will finance a month’s worth of imported wheat for Egypt’s bread subsidy program, which supports around 70 million low-income Egyptians. Cairo, July 7, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Mohamed (left) and his family live in this two-bedroom apartment. The daily wages of their household’s three men (two pictured) help supplement rations of state-subsidized bread with unsubsidized loaves. Old Cairo, July 5, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Mohamed’s family mainly eats their bread with cheese, jam, and raw vegetables to avoid the extra cost of cooking gas. Old Cairo, July 5, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Mohamed Mostafa, a donkey-barber-turned-day-laborer and father of five, says, 'I can’t afford or eat meat, so the charity of my community makes my children happy instead of feeling lesser than others.' Old Cairo, July 5, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

A livestock market ahead of Eid al-Adha. 'The turnout is low this year,' says Wassim, a sheepherder. 'By now, I’m usually back home.' Cairo, July 7, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Marking the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, Eid al-Adha is the second major holiday in Islam following Ramadan's Eid al-Fitr, or the 'Festival of Breaking the Fast.' Cairo, July 9, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Days before Eid al-Adha, the UN said, 'The world is moving backwards on eliminating hunger and malnutrition,' due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and 'increasingly frequent extreme climate events.' Cairo, July 9, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)