Strike in Turkish occupied areas in northern Syria due to raising diesel price
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Many bakery owners and professionals in the areas of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad (Gire Spi), which are occupied by the Turkish army and its affiliated armed groups in northern Syria, went on strike against escalating fuel prices.
Late in 2019, Turkey and Turkish-backed armed groups took over the regions of Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad after an attack that caused the displacement of 300,000 native residents, which were then replaced by fighters from the Turkish-backed groups and their families and supporters, according to humanitarian reports.
Since then, the people of those areas are suffering from a difficult living reality due to the lack of job opportunities, the spread of unemployment, and their lack of the most basic necessities of life.
An informed source told North Press that the leaders of the Turkish-backed groups that seize the crossings in Tel Abyad and Sere Kaniye raised the price of a barrel of diesel fuel from 230,000 Syrian pounds to 400,000 Syrian pounds.
The price hike came against the backdrop of the groups’ leaders imposing more than 100,000 SYP as customs duties on each barrel, without prior warning.
Social networking sites witnessed an outcry as activists accused the leaders of Turkish-backed groups of corruption, nepotism, and theft.
The residents also accused the leaders of Jaysh al-Sharqiya faction, most notably Abu Khattab al-Shami, the official in charge of one of the crossings in Tel Abyad, of monopolizing diesel and selling it in favor of his faction.
The region witnesses fighting between most of the opposition groups from time to time in attempts to gain influence, according to local sources.
Meanwhile, bakery owners in the town of Suluk in Tel Abyad countryside, and the owners of professions and craftsmen, announced a strike, in protest against the high prices.
On May 6, doctors and staff at Medina Hospital in Sere Kaniye went on strike after not receiving their salaries for months, and accused the Turkish-backed groups of stealing their financial allocations.
In mid-April the city witnessed another protest in front of the local council against the backdrop of deteriorating economic and living conditions.