Citizens, from traders, businesspersons to families, share experiences ahead of chrismass, painting a grim picture during the festivities
By Chuol Chanyong
Every family deserves comfort and joy at Christmas, but with the growing high costs of living, many find their holiday season stressful.
Christmas is often represented as the most wonderful time of the year, but for many, Christmas can be an extremely difficult time.
“Children do not understand the situation. I am afraid for my family. All our money has run out; everything is expensive,” said Mary Kiden, a mother of six.
“I don’t even know what my family and I will eat in January. I cannot buy everything for them, even the oldest ones. I left things to God.”
Abraham Maliet, an economist encouraged citizens to share their little possessions with their relatives, and the needy, during this festive season.
“If you have extra food or extra water or extra things, please share them with your neighbors who may not have them because that is what God says.”
“We must have a spirit of peace. Let us love one another,” Maliet said.
Mr. Abraham Makuach, a father of three children, expressed concerns about the deteriorating economic situation.
“The rise in prices of commodities presents pressure on families and the impossibility of committing to purchase clothes and their needs, especially with the government’s non-commitment to pay all the pending dues,” he said.
“The government is satisfied with paying the arrears of the month out of the pending eleven months accrued in the year; which means there are still 13 months’ arrears that the government did not pay,” Makuach explained.
Abdullah Hamed, a shopkeeper in the Konyo Konyo Market said the purchasing power of citizens this Christmas has decreased compared to previous years.
“In 2022 and 2023, we were opening more than three Christmas packages between December 15 and 20, but now half of the Christmas goods have not been completed. We are trying to cooperate with the customers, but it is difficult for us,” he said.
Prices for basic goods for celebrating the festivities, such as cakes, have significantly increased. A bucket cake is sold from SSP 66.000 to SSP 100,000.
A kilo of frozen and local chicken is sold at SSP 25,000 while a whole chicken is sold at SSP 100,000.
A kilo of tomatoes and potatoes is SSP 8000, and a watermelon is SSP 15 000.
Whereas, a pair of trousers for male adults ranges between SSP150,000 and SSP 200, and classic men’s shirts are sold at SSP 130,000 to SSP 170,000, and for women are at SSP 100,000 to SSP150,000.
Children’s clothes are between SSP 70,000 and SSP 120,000.
However, stores of Chinese merchants are the cheapest compared to other stores in Juba.
In the transport sector such as air transport, travel agents also increased the ticket rate. For instance, a flight ticket from Juba to Malakal is increased to $120.
Meanwhile, road transport from Juba to Torit is SSP 50,000, Juba to Bor SSP 50,000, and then Juba to Magwi is SSP 80,000.