Syrian government blames uptick in bread production costs on U.S.
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian government said on Monday that U.S.’ presence in parts of Syria caused an uptick in cost of bread production in the country.
The Syrian Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection said that large spaces designated for the cultivation of wheat are under the “American occupation,” adding they also control oil wells, which contributed to the increase in cost of bread production.
This came after the government increased the price of bread by 100 percent in public and private bakeries.
The Ministry justified the surge in prices due to the increase in wheat prices, global costs of production, and complications of land and sea trade routes.
Earlier on Monday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a legislative decrees that increased the salaries and wages of civilian, military, and retired employees by 50 percent.
Minutes later, the government doubled the price of a seven-loaf bundle of bread from 200 Syrian pounds (SYP) to 400 SYP, in addition to increasing the price of one liter of diesel designated for public and private bakeries from 700 SYP to 2000 SYP.
It is worth mentioning that these days the exchange rate of one U.S. dollar is 15,000 SYP but is changing constantly.
Syria has been experiencing a severe economic crisis for several years. The inflation rate in Syria has skyrocketed due to a combination of factors, including the ongoing civil war, economic sanctions, and a shortage of essential goods.
The high inflation rate in Syria has had a devastating impact on the country’s population, with many struggling to afford basic necessities such as food, housing, and healthcare. The ongoing conflict in Syria, coupled with the economic crisis, has led to a humanitarian catastrophe, with millions of Syrians displaced and in need of aid.