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While the Egyptian government recently imposed controversial economic policies, prices of basic commodities Ìýunprecedented hikes as the holy Muslim month of Ramadan kicked off, sparking a state of unease among low-income households in the country.

On March 21, the Egyptian pound had Ìýaround 17% in its value against the US dollar, following aÌýÌýand a rise inÌýprices acrossÌýdifferent aspects of life, especially food.

The pound has beenÌýÌýat 18.32 Egyptian pounds to the dollar at banks on Monday after it had been valued at 15.77 before the recent of the Egyptian pound.

Of Egypt's of around 102,000,000 residents, one-third are estimated to beÌý.

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°®Âþµº visited the Kafr El-Gabal area of the Haram neighbourhood, which houses mostly poor and lower-middle-class families in the Giza province of the Egyptian capital, to gauge how they are handlingÌýthe new price hikes.Ìý

The interviewees are anonymous, as per their requestÌýdue to sensitivities in discussing the topic openly. Ìý

At the Batran local market in Kafr El-Gabal, more than one type of tomato is sold at different prices.ÌýAÌýsolid tomatoÌýisÌýsold for the highest price and is usually used for salads, while a softer version is usedÌýfor cooking. Almost rotten tomatoes are offered for the lowest price, and that is what many of the customersÌýcan buy.

"The price of tomatoes, an irreplaceable ingredient inÌýalmost all Egyptian dishes, has recently soared to the extent that people have become unable to afford it,"Ìýone buyer, a public school teacher, told °®Âþµº, as she was picking one and a half kilos of the soft type, worth 15 Egyptian pounds, for a simple meal.

"The amount I'm buying is hardly enough for a one-day for my five-member family, plus 35 pounds more for other ingredients to make a dish such as 'moussaka,' without minced meat,Ìýlet alone the rising cost of . So, we end up being vegetarians against our own will,"Ìýshe said, bitterly.

"My children have not eaten chicken or meat for several weeks now,"ÌýsheÌýadded.

Egypt imports a considerable amount of corn used for animal and poultry feed from Ukraine, which is facing anÌýÌýby Russia since 24 February.

As a result, and due to massive disruptions in trade, the EgyptianÌýgovernment has been seeking alternatives as the prices of poultry and meatÌýwidely fluctuate daily. The changes in prices are so erraticÌýto the extent that many customers check the prices of theseÌýproducts the way investors check the stock market.

Meanwhile, at most local markets in Kafr El-Gabal, the supply has surpassed the demand.

"I sell oranges at 6.50 pounds/kilo for aÌýprofit margin of one pound per kilo. But people started refraining from buying fruits, and are turning to the basics. That is why in many cases I end up selling the fruits after they becomeÌýriperÌýat a lower cost, and I deal with grave losses,"Ìýa vendor told °®Âþµº. Ìý

French fries, for example, are no longer deemed a fun meal for childrenÌýnor asÌýa side dish. For many of theÌýpoorer communities in Egypt, it hasÌýbecome theÌýmain course served with bread.

"I tell my children they have to eat bread with fried potatoes to feel fullÌýor else we will not be able to survive, even though it still costs us expensive cooking oil. But what else can we eat?"Ìýa woman, who worksÌýat a nursery noted to °®Âþµº.

"We will continueÌýeating the same food during Ramadan as we used to eat before, even though we need more nutrition to support our bodies after the long hours of fasting,"Ìýshe added with a sigh.Ìý

Among Egyptians'Ìýhabits during Ramadan is drinking beverages that help people avoid dehydration, andÌýmost of these beveragesÌýare imported such as hibiscus and tamarinds juices.

Yet, after the rising price of the US dollar, these drinks have become a luxury rather than a custom.

"We cannot afford any of the options that can give us energyÌýor help us hydrate at iftar time. We usually turn to tasteless juices made of powder, with some sugar in them, but even the price of sugar is high," a simple civil servant said to °®Âþµº.

"This has been our reality for almost six years now and has gotten unbearable over the pastÌýmonth."ÌýÌý