High prices, cheap exchange rate of the Syrian currency in Berderesh overburden the Syrian refugees

Kurdistan Region of Iraq - stalls behind the wires surrounding the camp Berderesh selling goods - NPA

Dohuk – North-Press Agency

Since the first day of the arrival of Syrian refugees, the vendors in the vicinity of Berderesh camp in Kurdistan region of Iraq have been selling vegetables, fruits and other items needed by the refugees.

Around 50 sellers open their stalls at the barbed wire around the camp, and refugees gather to buy what they need in Syrian currency, estimated by vendors in Iraqi currency.

Expensive materials

Refugees in Berderesh camp lack many supplies they need so they have to buy from stalls surrounding the camp at high prices.

Aisha Ali, a refugee explained to North-Press that they have to buy vegetables, fruits, milk and some pots necessary for cooking, “but the prices are very expensive,” she said.

One kilo of apples or grapes is sold in the camp at a price of 1,000 Iraqi pounds, equivalent to 660 Syrian pounds per kilo according to the seller’s estimate, and the rest of the items are sold at this estimate.

“Organizations don’t distribute all the supplies we need, so we buy what we need and what’s necessary for us,” said refugee Khalil Mahmoud.

Cheap exchange rate of Syrian pound 

Sellers estimated to exchange 1000 pound of the Syrian currency against 1500 pound of the Iraqi currency, with a difference of 100-200 pounds of the exchange market.

Sellers exchange the Syrian currency in Berderesh camp by selling materials to refugees and exchanging the Syrian currency to Iraqi currency according to their estimates, and the seller is the one who estimates the rest of the money in Iraqi currency if the buyer confused.

Residents of Berderesh camp complain about the cheap rate of the Syrian currency exchange by the seller’s estimates when they buy the materials and incur losses.

Abdul Majdal, a Syrian refugee explained to North-Press that they do not know exactly the real exchange rate of the Syrian currency because it varies from a seller to another.

According to statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on October 26, the number of Syrian refugees arriving at Kurdistan Regional Government has reached 11,640 refugees.

According to the UNHCR report, 10,699 refugees were hosted in Berderesh camp, noting that the camp had reached its full capacity.