DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Al-Abdullah is one of many who were affected by the deterioration of security conditions in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria, which hinders the development of projects and obstructs economic growth.
Ahmad al-Abdullah, a resident from the village of Hawaij Dhiab in the west of Deir ez-Zor, told North Press that the security chaos in his region is “very challenging.”
Deir ez-Zor witnesses crumbling security in the west of the Euphrates River as a result of operations of Iranian-backed militias, activities of Islamic State (ISIS), and repeated tensions and fighting among the tribes.
There was a visible decline in establishing projects and services that would have enhanced the situation in Deir ez-Zor during 2023 as a result of the deteriorating security and the collapse of the Syrian pound against the US dollar.
Al-Abdullah does not open any projects to invest his money, fearing a possible loss of capital as a result of conflicts and the collapse of the local currency.
The Syrian pound has witnessed an unprecedented decline in value against the US dollar. Today, the value of one US dollar surpassed the 12,000 SYP threshold.
Since services and economic projects are interrelated, officials of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in Deir ez-Zor demanded the US-led Global Coalition to ensure stable security to help enhance the conditions in the region. However, ISIS remains an actual threat in Deir ez-Zor despite the security operations targeting its sleeper cells.
The AANES was first formed in 2014 in the Kurdish-majority regions of Afrin, Kobani and Jazira in northern Syria following the withdrawal of the government forces. Later, it was expanded to Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor after the SDF defeated ISIS militarily there.
The security conditions forced Amer al-Khalaf, a resident of the village of Hamar al-Kasra, to limit his business and not open other shops. He works in the iron business but has to buy small amounts due to the challenges he faces.
He criticizes “the loose grip of security forces” and inability to impose order, especially the fights among tribes and the protests and acts of vandalism that come along with it from time to time.
He told North Press that the collapse of the local currency against the US dollar contributed to shutting down projects and caused great losses to businessmen.
Mahmoud al-Ukla, a resident from the village of al-Tar in the west of Deir ez-Zor, also stopped developing his business due to deteriorating security conditions and an increase of robberies.
He said the current security conditions hinder opening vital projects because people take advantage of the situation and monopolize the needed materials.
Muhammad al-Mayzer, administrator of services in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor, said they had not yet obtained the funds for this year’s projects from the AANES’ Executive Council of Deir ez-Zor.
He told North Press that several projects were studied and drafted by the Municipality Board of Deir ez-Zor. These include expansion projects for the water system, a filtration plant in al-Kabbar area, the completion of the al-Harmoushiya water station, water sterilization and filtration system in the al-Kasra and Meheimideh plants, the completion of a water plant in Hawaij Bomasa, and a water system to deliver water to homes that do not have access to water.
He also noted studying a draft for a sewage project in the al-Hisan and working on establishing a new water pipe in the village of al-Janina, “all awaiting the cashing of the budget.”
According to al-Mayzer, the projects of the municipality focused on water and sewage systems to enhance and provide drinking water for the population.