By Ahmad Othman
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Khalil complained about the overall situation in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, describing it as lamentable. He highlighted the decline in various essential services, including education and agriculture, as well as the soaring cost of food.
Khalil al-Othman, 28, a resident of Gharanij town in eastern Deir ez-Zor, calls for NGOs to support the region amid the deteriorating living conditions.
“Unemployment rates among young men have reached alarming levels, with two to three unemployed young men in each family.” He believes that the support of NGOs in the region would create employment opportunities and contribute to improving service conditions.
Villages and towns in Deir ez-Zor have been suffering from power outages for over 10 years due to cable and transformer theft, as well as the destruction caused by the conflicts that the region has witnessed, according to al-Othman.
Residents of Deir ez-Zor complain about the lack of services provided by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) institutions, especially in the sectors of agriculture, education, and healthcare. The residents have contributed significantly to rebuilding schools at their own expense, according to locals.
Muhammed al-Jolan, 35, a resident of the city of Hajin in eastern Deir ez-Zor, emphasizes the need for NGO’s support in Deir ez-Zor to improve living conditions and poor services provided by the AANES institutions.
“The infrastructure in Deir ez-Zor is destroyed, especially the educational sector, which is witnessing its worst condition. This is also the case for healthcare, agriculture, and other services,” he tells North Press.
Al-Jolan calls on the AANES, decision-makers, and humanitarian NGOs to extend immediate support and respond to the demands of the population.
Zalan al-Midan, 25, a resident of Gharanij town, calls on relevant authorities and international NGOs to rebuild the infrastructure that has been destroyed due to conflicts.
Main and secondary roads in villages and towns of Deir ez-Zor are plagued by waste and garbage, emitting foul odors that cause diseases, according to al-Midan.
Al-Midan calls for providing job opportunities for young men and empowering them to play an active role in society, as well as combating unemployment.
Mahmoud al-Daham, 35, a resident of Gharanij town, echoes the demands of those before him, stating that providing support to some industries could help reduce prices, especially with the majority of the population unable to secure their livelihoods.
The residents of Deir ez-Zor are grappling with economic hardships as a consequence of the Syrian currency’s collapse and the decreasing incomes, especially those derived from agricultural lands. This is a result of the lack of support, as well as the AANES failure to procure crops, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by monopolistic traders.
Khaled al-Hamdan, 47, a resident of al-Bahra town in eastern Deir ez-Zor, describes the villages and towns of eastern Deir ez-Zor as disaster-stricken places due to their lack of services and living conditions.
“The raw materials and resources in Deir ez-Zor are sufficient to provide a luxurious life for its residents and the residents of North and East Syria. However, the region currently suffers from a lack of the basic necessities and essential components of life,” he notes.