{"id":13996,"date":"2022-10-18T06:51:21","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T13:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=13996"},"modified":"2022-10-19T06:52:44","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T13:52:44","slug":"fuel-protests-gripping-more-than-90-countries-bbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=13996","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Fuel protests gripping more than 90 countries&#8221;, BBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By Efrem Gebreab &amp; Thomas Naadi &amp; Ranga Sirilal &amp; Becky Dale, London, 18 Oct, 2022<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11faxz6-TagShareWrapper e1nh2i2l0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ynay8h-StyledInformationPanel e15ad6a66\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ydmugk-StyledTagContainer ed0g1kj1\">\n<p><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">Related Topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-i7uuy0-Cluster e1ihwmse1\">\n<ul class=\"ssrcss-d7aixc-ClusterItems e1ihwmse0\">\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-156x968-StyledLink ed0g1kj0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/topics\/c1vw6q14rzqt\">Russia-Ukraine war<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-vk3nhx-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-11kpz0x-Placeholder e16icw910\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/2273\/production\/_126891880_gettyimages-1241575521reduced.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Protesters in Ecuador hit the streets over the rise in cost of living\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/picture><\/span><span class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">IMAGE SOURCE, <\/span>GETTY IMAGES<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-1mget3o-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y7krbn-Stack e1y4nx260\">Protesters in Ecuador hit the streets over the rise in the cost of living<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><em>High costs of living are driving people to protest in the streets against crippling prices. The BBC has mapped all reported demonstrations over fuel since January 2021, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-63185186\">revealing a huge increase in protests this year<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Fuel costs affect many aspects of daily life &#8211; personal travel, transportation of goods, energy for electricity and heating.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Around the world demonstrators have called for change. They&#8217;ve demanded that petrol be made more affordable or available at all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">They&#8217;ve sat in peaceful protests and they&#8217;ve attacked governments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Some have paid an even higher price.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dm4ypg-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"Fights-over-fuel\" class=\"ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\">Fights over fuel<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">16-year-old Khadija Bah was standing on her family&#8217;s front porch when she was shot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">For days, Khadija had been watching growing crowds of demonstrators rally, gathering only metres from her house on the east side of Sierra Leone&#8217;s capital, Freetown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But on 10 August, the protests turned violent. As armed police clashed with protesters, a stray bullet hit Khadjia. She sank to the ground and died almost immediately.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Her mother, Maria Sesay, is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her daughter. A student at the local secondary school, Khadija&#8217;s dream was one day to become a nurse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1hq4gmv-Placeholder e16icw910\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/6E1A\/production\/_126868182_khadija_parents_abdul_maria.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Khadija's parents, Maria (L) and Abdul (R)\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-1mget3o-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y7krbn-Stack e1y4nx260\">Khadija&#8217;s parents, Maria (L) and Abdul (R)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;I&#8217;m so sad,&#8221; her mother says. &#8220;Up until now, I have struggled so hard to raise my daughter. But now she is dead. I&#8217;m in so much pain.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Violence like this has not been witnessed in this small west African nation for years. This time, it was sparked by record-breaking fuel prices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">In the month of August, violent clashes in the capital killed 25 people, including five police officers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Since March, the price of fuel in the country has nearly doubled, from 12,000 Leones ($0.86; \u00a30.73) per litre to a record high of 22,000 Leones ($1.58; \u00a31.35) in July.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">In July, the central bank introduced new banknotes &#8211; stripping three zeros off the Leone &#8211; in a move to restore confidence in its inflation-hit currency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1hq4gmv-Placeholder e16icw910\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/108EB\/production\/_126891876_afp4.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Protesters take to the streets on 10 August in Freetown\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/picture><span class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">IMAGE SOURCE, <\/span>AFP<\/span><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-1mget3o-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y7krbn-Stack e1y4nx260\">Protesters take to the streets on 10 August in Freetown<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Eventually the violence was subdued after the authorities declared a city-wide curfew. The internet was also throttled, to prevent the protestors from communicating and organising yet another rally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Sierra Leone&#8217;s president, Julius Maada Bio, later declared the protests were a violent attempt to overthrow his government. However, numerous residents dispute this, telling the BBC they took to the streets to rally against the rising price of fuel and food.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But Sierra Leone is far from alone in its struggles with rising prices and protests over the cost of living.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dm4ypg-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"A-global-petrol-crisis\" class=\"ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\">A global petrol crisis<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">By analysing data on demonstrations worldwide, collected by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled), the BBC has established that between January and September this year people in more than 90 countries and territories took to the streets over the price or availability of fuel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A third were countries which had no protests at all over fuel in 2021. For example, Spain had none in 2021, but saw 335 individual rallies just in March this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1kgou70-ComponentWrapper-IncludeComponentWrapper e1vuxjf41\" data-component=\"include-block\">\n<div data-component=\"include-html\">\n<div id=\"flourish-container-vjeastasia-800-flourish_on_slack-NEWSSPEC-34657\" class=\"flourish-container\">\n<div id=\"flourish-embed-container-vjeastasia-800-flourish_on_slack-NEWSSPEC-34657\">\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-\" data-src=\"visualisation\/11188634?123456\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/11188634\/embed?auto=1\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Aside from Antarctica, not a single continent has remained free of fuel protests in the last nine months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">In Indonesia there have been more than 600 protests over petrol so far this year compared to just 19 in 2021. In Italy, there were over 200 in the first eight months of 2022 compared to just two last year. And in Ecuador, there were over 1,000 protests over fuel in the month of June alone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Most surprising to Henry Wilkinson, the chief intelligence officer from Dragonfly, a security and intelligence service, is where the protests are occurring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;What is unusual this time is that we are seeing protests in places that are usually not prone to protests. The war in Ukraine has had a huge disproportionate impact. A resolution to the conflict would ease the global crisis significantly,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dm4ypg-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"Reasons-for-the-rises\" class=\"ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\">Reasons for the rises<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The war in Ukraine is just one of many factors driving up the global price of fuel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Crude oil was cheaper at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, because many businesses temporarily closed and the demand for energy collapsed. But as life returned to the &#8220;new normal&#8221; and energy demands increased, suppliers have struggled to keep up with demand which has pushed up prices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The US dollar is at an all-time high against other major currencies; the pound, the euro, China&#8217;s yuan and the Japanese yen. The oil used to make petrol is paid for in US dollars. So a weak local currency against the dollar makes fuel even more expensive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Finally, the Ukraine-Russian conflict has led to many countries declaring a ban on Russian oil imports. That means the demand for other oil from other producers has gone up, leading to higher prices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dm4ypg-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"From-economic-to-political-collapse\" class=\"ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\">From economic to political collapse<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Of all 92 countries and territories experiencing civil unrest over fuel prices, it was Sri Lanka that made international headlines earlier this year after mass protests brought the government to its knees and led to the ousting of the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">With one of the highest rates of inflation anywhere in Asia, Sri Lankans are suffering a major cost of living crisis as the price of fuel, food and medicine continues to rise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1hq4gmv-Placeholder e16icw910\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/0E2D\/production\/_126892630_gettyimages-1240804027srilankareduced.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Police use tear gas to disperse students protesting in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo over the country's economic crisis\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-1mget3o-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y7krbn-Stack e1y4nx260\">Police use tear gas to disperse students protesting in Sri Lanka&#8217;s capital Colombo over the country&#8217;s economic crisis<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">48-year-old Wimala Dissanayaka, runs a vegetable stall in the upper-class suburb of Thalawathugoda, Colombo. She says her family is now living hand-to-mouth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;Prices of everything have gone through the roof. Our costs of living are rising but our income hasn&#8217;t changed,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;I have three children and bus fares have increased so dramatically, it now costs 100 rupees ($0.27; \u00a30.24) per kid to go to school. So, it&#8217;s 600 rupees ($1.65; \u00a31.44) for all three every day.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Wimala says she can no longer afford to fill up her small lorry with petrol to carry her produce to and from the market. Instead she has to manage on public transport or share lifts with other vendors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;Prices are so expensive, my customers don&#8217;t want to spend a lot. People who used to buy 500 grams or one kilogram of vegetables now ask for 100 grams or 250 grams. And those who used to come by car or motorbike are now either walking or using a push bike.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dm4ypg-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"No-end-in-sight\" class=\"ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\">No end in sight<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">While governments around the world scramble to find solutions to their countries&#8217; economic crises, the protests continue. But for some, it comes at a heavy cost.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">BBC research has found that in the last nine months, more than 80 people have lost their lives due to protests over the cost of fuel. That includes individuals from Argentina, Ecuador, Guinea, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Panama, Peru, South Africa as well as Sierra Leone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Back in Freetown, calm has returned to the streets and most traders have reopened their shops again. But for Khadija&#8217;s father Abdul and his entire family, life will never be the same again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;My daughter was such a promising child. Now she is gone,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Efrem Gebreab &amp; Thomas Naadi &amp; Ranga Sirilal &amp; Becky Dale, London, 18 Oct, 2022 Related Topics Russia-Ukraine war IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESImage caption, Protesters in Ecuador hit the streets over the rise in the cost of living High costs of living are driving people to protest in the streets against crippling prices. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1001004,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13996"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1001004"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13996"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13996\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13999,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13996\/revisions\/13999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}