The humanitarian and economic situation is increasingly worsening in Yemen due to the conflict that has been grinding on for over six months now, an economic report by the Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) revealed. The report, released last September within the framework of Rasad project, which is designed to monitor the humanitarian and economic situation in the country, stated that humanitarian and living conditions are deteriorating amid a steep spike in basic commodity prices, lack of oil products, black market expansion, and rising poverty rate, currently estimated at 81%. The upward trend in basic product prices continued unabated during the last month of September in Sana'a and Hodeida and Taiz i.e. at 15.92%, 15.32 % , 2% respectively, compared to last month, it highlighted. It noted that such prices plummeted 23.87% in Aden, 6.33% in Hadramout, 1.43% in Mareb as against last month. Basic food items, including wheat, rice, sugar, milk, and cooking oil, were relatively available in target governorates, barring Mareb, where such products are in short supply, according to the report. Household gas, oil derivatives The report, covering the governorates of Sana'a, Aden, Taiz, Hadramout, and Mareb, indicated that household gas, petrol and diesel have run out in the governorates of Sana'a and Hodeida, with only small amounts of fuel sold on the black market at scorching prices, which have more than doubled. Petrol rose 300%, household gas 360%, diesel 300%, according to the report. It further highlighted that these have run out on the market, and are only available in small quantities on the black market, and at prohibitive prices that surged 270% for petrol, and 300% for household gas. Diesel has run out even on the black market, threatening to bring life to a standstill, it further indicated. Such products are available in varying quantities in the governorates of Aden, Hadramout and Mareb, it stated. Currency The Yemeni Riyal keeps dropping in value against the dollar and other hard currencies, according to the report. It explained that the dollar was changing hand at YR 243 on the black market in September as opposed to 240 the previous month, especially as government banks still refrain from changing the dollar and the Euro, with the Saudi Riyal flooding the market.