JAZAN: Recent fighting in the Saudi-Yemeni border region has impacted on the livestock market in the Al-Masareha and Samtah areas of Jazan province.
Saudis living in 240 villages near the border fled from the war scene with their livestock after fighting broke out between Saudi forces and Yemeni militants. The livestock market became flooded, causing prices to drop due to little demand. According to businessmen, prices fell by 15 percent in the Al-Masareha livestock market.
Livestock owner Abu Haroon said most of the livestock in the market belonged to refugees escaping from the war zone. They wanted to sell their livestock at any price after failing to find places to keep them and because they could not provide the animals with food.
Another owner said the situation could have been worse if it had not happened during the Haj season. He said that they were lucky prices had only declined 15 percent.
Merchants selling animal feed on the other hand used this as a golden opportunity to raise their prices. Most livestock owners depend on natural fodder in the region’s south.
