Baby formula to run out in 10 days in Syria’s Qamishli
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Kamiran Bek, head of the Pharmacists Union in the city of Qamishli, northeast Syria, says that, “the stock of baby formula will suffice for ten more days only,” as a result of the closure of Semalka-Faysh Khabur border crossing.
On May 11, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) closed the border crossing, which links Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and northeast Syria, until further notice and without giving details.
Bek told North Press on Thursday that the closure of the crossing significantly affected the shortage of baby formula in Qamishli in general because 90 percent of the formula comes through the crossing.
“The continued closure of the border crossing will lead to a catastrophic situation. The current stock might only last ten days,” he noted, indicating the need of finding a solution.
Earlier a pharmacist from Qamishli told North Press that there is a shortage of types of baby formula “such as Nido, Nido plus, Kikoz, Bebelac, Dielac,” in the pharmacies of the city since the closure of the crossing.
Bek accused some merchants of exploiting the closure of the crossing and manipulate formula prices, where a can of baby formula of NAN 1 is being sold at 80,000 SYP (or $9.14) and those of Kikoz at 50,000 SYP ($5.70).
Since the region has been besieged for years, the Semalka-Faysh Khabur crossing is the only outlet for the region. The prices of milk powder delivered from the Syrian government-held areas are “high and thus create additional burdens on the population,” according to Bek.
He called on officials of the border crossing to reconsider its opening, because of the impact to people’s needs, especially baby formula. He also called to take into account the humanitarian situation of the people of northeast Syria.