Kobani markets over-crowded before Eid al-Fitr
The markets of Kobani/Ayn Al Arab are crowded with people and tight security measures by the Internal Security Forces as Eid al-Fitr approaches.
The traffic of Al-Telal Street, which is famous for clothing, shoes and cosmetics stores, reaches its peak in the evening.
Safety and construction
Residents believe that security stability in the region in general and in the city in particular, in addition to the availability of various goods, has contributed to increasing the movement of citizens in the markets compared to previous years. As well as the active construction movement in the city after years of the departure of the Islamic State Organization.
Nizar Ibrahim Sheikho, a citizen of Kobani told North Press that “The elimination of ISIS was a relief to the people, despite the existence of the Organization’s sleeper cells “, hoping that the Eid will be good for all components of the Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen in north and east Syria.
Fatima Zitou, a citizen returned from Turkey, explains that security situation in the city is good and everything is available in different types, hoping that peace would prevail in Syria in general.
While Samira Muhammad, from the town of Sheeran, east of Kobani, says that the city is developing day by day, and good shops are opening there, hoping that the displaced people of Kobani and the refugees come back to their city.
Farhad Mulla, owner of a clothing shop, said that shop owners are trying as much as possible to help the residents and decrease the profit margin so that citizens can buy what they need, adding that despite the shop has been opened recently but it is witnessing good movement and turnout of citizens, especially during the Eid season.
Dollar exchange rate
The Eid holiday coincides with a marked increase in the exchange rate of the dollar against the Syrian pound, which ranges between 580-570 / Syrian pound per dollar, which affects the purchasing power of the people.
The market movement in the northern and eastern areas of Syria is directly related to the exchange rate of the US dollar, although the income of the population is not compatible with its exchange rates.
Some families are not affected by the high exchange rate, because they depend on their expatriate sons to manage their living and deal with the foreign currency.
Perwa Kanaan said that models of the year and new stores that opened were not there last Eid, but “their prices are expensive because of the high dollar exchange rate”.
According to Dogan Ahmed Sheikho, the prices of clothing are high compared to the income of the citizen and its correlation to the dollar.
Goods
‘The quality and prices of goods vary from one place to another,” as Sherine Sheikh Muhammad points out,” but the clothing models, especially for children, are excellent compared to previous years, and their prices are fairly acceptable, because they are linked to the exchange rate of the dollar.
Abdul Salam Muhammad, owner of a shop for “Eid hospitality and sweets”, says, “The goods come from the cities of Aleppo and Damascus and its prices are good, besides the market movement and the purchasing of these products have increased more than the previous Eids. Nowadays the market is experiencing a great traffic and movement of citizens compared to the past years.
Kobani – Fattah Issa / Jihad Nabo – NPA