Residents in Suwayda struggle as flour crisis deepens
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Severe flour shortages in Suwayda have forced residents to endure hours-long waits outside bakeries, with local officials warning of further disruption if supply delays continue.
Muwafaq Abdulbaqi, director of the state-run bakery in Suwayda, said on Thursday that “the amounts of flour entering the province have started to arrive late and in smaller quantities, which caused heavy pressure on bakeries and created overcrowding amid people’s fears of losing access to bread.”
The governorate, located in southern Syria, has seen bakeries halt operations for two consecutive days due to a lack of raw materials, primarily flour. The stoppage has further strained supplies, forcing residents to queue in front of bakeries for long hours to secure their daily bread.
Abdulbaqi explained that bakeries in Suwayda “have relied since the beginning of the crisis on aid provided by humanitarian organizations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.” He noted that “this aid used to arrive regularly, which helped maintain operations.”
However, recent interruptions have disrupted this flow, leaving bakeries unable to meet demand. Abdul-Baqi emphasized the need for consistent and sufficient deliveries, saying, “It is necessary that aid and raw materials arrive on a regular basis and cover the bakeries’ needs for several days, not just for a single day, so we can work with stability and avoid sudden crises.”
The shortage of flour in Suwayda comes at a time when other regions in Syria, particularly in the country’s northeast, continue to implement local governance mechanisms to stabilize food supplies and ensure the steady operation of bakeries under challenging economic conditions.
The immediate concern in Suwayda remains the timely delivery of flour shipments. Local authorities say they are awaiting new allocations to ease the pressure on bakeries and reduce overcrowding at distribution points.