Import drought hits Belarus

MINSK, Belarus, April 29 (UPI) -- A store clerk in Minsk, Belarus, said a shortage of imported merchandise was a simple result of losing money.

"Nobody wants to bear financial losses," said an anonymous shop clerk quoted Friday by RIA Novosti.

Belarus is facing a severe shortage of imported goods due to the acceleration of its currency devaluation.

In the past two months the Belarusian ruble has dropped from 3,000 to the dollar to 5,000.

Since January, the country's currency reserves have dropped 20 percent.

Imports are now becoming harder to find in stores, which are no longer restocking items such as household cleaners and fruit juices, the news agency said.

Internet companies also are suffering, with many closing down.