Residents protest in Suwayda demanding aid and safe corridors
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Residents of Shahba city in northern Suwayda governorate organized on Saturday a protest demanding the entry of food supplies and fuel, the opening of safe corridors, and improved living conditions amid ongoing service shortages.
Dozens of residents gathered in the city center holding banners calling for humanitarian access and solutions to the worsening economic situation. Protesters also raised slogans calling for self-determination, stating that prospects for resolving local grievances through Damascus had become increasingly difficult.
Participants said the demonstration aimed to draw attention to deteriorating services, particularly electricity and fuel shortages, which have affected essential sectors.
Medhat Abu Raslan, a participant in the protest, told North Press that “choosing Shahba to organize the protest came because it is among the areas most affected by the lack of services, especially electricity and fuel, which has negatively impacted vital sectors such as the hospital and telecommunications.”
He added that “despite the difficult circumstances, residents remain steadfast and are demanding the opening of a safe crossing that would ease their humanitarian suffering.”
Abu Raslan stressed that residents of Suwayda and Shahba are calling for guarantees to ensure the unrestricted arrival of essential materials, noting that “these demands come within the framework of searching for practical and sustainable solutions to the living crisis experienced by the region.”
During the protest, some demonstrators raised the Israeli flag and called for independence, while others demanded the opening of safe corridors, including one with Israel, arguing that such routes could help secure basic needs such as food, fuel, and medicine.
Osama al-Qantar, another protest participant, told North Press that “the protest primarily aims to demand self-determination and independence, in addition to opening a safe corridor that would help break the siege and secure essential supplies, especially for Shahba city, which suffers from a severe shortage of services.”
No official response from Syrian government authorities regarding Saturday’s demands had been announced at the time of publication.