Financial struggles burden Yemen's army as soldiers wait for wages

"Inside a military facility on the outskirts of this western Yemeni city, soldier Suleiman al-Hajj sits beside two of his comrades in a sparse room where they spend most of their on-duty hours. Worry is etched on his face as he makes another call and sends a flurry of messages in search of a loan as another salary payment from the army is delayed. It is a recurring issue in the armed forces of Yemen's internationally recognised government, in which the hardships of the battlefield merge into everyday life with serious implications for the military's efficiency."

"Army personnel earn 60,000 to 180,000 Yemeni riyals per month, roughly $38 to $116. One military source who requested anonymity told Al Jazeera that the size of the regular Yemeni army ranges from 180,000 to 220,000 personnel but only about 30 to 40 percent serve on the front lines. The rest are in support roles or on guard duty. The army receives a budget of roughly 36 billion riyals each month, about $23.2m, with about 17 billion riyals allocated to the Fourth Military Region based in Aden."

"One officer told Al Jazeera that his soldiers last received their salaries in December although the government had promised that any arrears would be paid by Eid al-Adha, the Muslim holiday due to fall in late May and a time of gift giving and feasts. We are soldiers of the state, and we do not know of any party responsible for securing our salaries other than the government, represented by the Ministry of Defence and the presidency of the General Staff, he said. Despite the hardships, the soldiers remain at their posts, fulfilling their duties, the officer added."

Soldiers in Yemen face recurring delays in army salary payments while an unstable currency erodes the purchasing power of their wages. In Marib, a soldier spends on-duty hours in a sparse facility and repeatedly seeks loans as salary payments are postponed. Army personnel earn 60,000 to 180,000 Yemeni riyals monthly, roughly $38 to $116, but the value of that pay declines. The regular army is estimated at 180,000 to 220,000 personnel, with only about 30 to 40 percent serving on the front lines. The army receives about 36 billion riyals monthly, with a large share allocated to the Fourth Military Region. Some officers report soldiers last received salaries in December despite promises to clear arrears by Eid al-Adha. Despite these conditions, soldiers continue serving because the government depends on them in its fight against the Houthis.

Read at www.aljazeera.com