Benzene vanishes in opposition-held Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Eighty hours after the devastating earthquake that shocked Syria and Turkey on Feb. 6, markets and stations in Idlib, a governorate northwest Syria held by Syrian opposition factions, ran short of benzene on Thursday.
Local sources from the region told North Press that benzene is not available in most of the fuel stations in areas of Idlib because the earthquake has hindered importing processes from Turkey.
The sources added that since the first day of the earthquake, benzene started to become lesser in the stations.
Each liter of benzene is sold at 25 Turkish lira (equals $ 1.33) on the black market while the official price is 22 TL ($1.17) amid calls for intensifying monitoring on fuel stations to force them return the monopolized fuel.
One hundred fuel tankers are expected to cross to the earthquake-affected areas in northwest Syria in the framework of a relief plan set by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.
According to officials from the AANES, the tankers are awaiting on a crossing that separates the AANES-held areas from these of the opposition to be granted approval from the latter to have access into the region.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed thousands and injured much more. The earthquake also caused immense destruction of buildings, trapping thousands under the rubble.
The death toll of those killed in Syria in the earthquake has reached 3.583 people, while 6.342 were injured.