HTS keeps strangling people in Syria’s Idlib through monopolizing foodstuff
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – In a new method to strangle the people of Syria’s northwestern city of Idlib, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) banned on Monday the entry of sugar into the region through Deir Ballout crossing point in Atmeh town.
Deir Ballout crossing point links areas controlled by HTS to areas held by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) in Afrin, northern Aleppo.
On Saturday, the Salvation Government, the political wing of the HTS, set the price of one kilo of sugar for USD 0.90, which means up to 13 TL.
HTS, members in charge of the crossing point, told locals who had sugar with them to return to Afrin, otherwise the sugar would be confiscated, local sources from Atmeh told North Press.
It should be mentioned that the biggest amount of sugar one person had was less than five kilograms.
The shortage of sugar in Idlib prompted people to go to Afrin to purchase it. However, HTS denies the entry of sugar, the sources said.
According to the sources, HTS bans multiple materials such as diesel, gas, sugar and some kinds of vegetables to enter Idlib in order to compel them purchase the stuff from the companies it owns.
The extensive check the HTS enforces at Deir Ballout crossing point for passengers as well as for vehicles causes traffic jam and long lines of people and cars.