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

Yemeni soldiers earn $38 to $116 monthly, but an unstable currency erodes the value of their salaries.Marib, Yemen – 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.How much does a Yemeni soldier earn?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, the city back under government control after about six years in southern separatist hands.Are salaries paid regularly?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.