Government checkpoints accused of confiscating gas cylinders in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor

DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Residents of al-Tabani town, in the western country side of Deir ez-Zor, accused the Syrian government checkpoints of confiscating gas cylinders when they bring them from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syrian (AANES)-held areas.

Khaled al-Hajji, a resident of the town told North Press that the Syrian government checkpoints have confiscated his gas cylinder after his return from the AANES-held regions.

Nawar al-Mousa told North Press that he has bought two gas cylinders from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-held areas and when he returned, the government checkpoints forced to return them back.  

“If we refuse to return the gas cylinders, the government checkpoints will permanently confiscate them,” he added.

Khawla al-Khalaf told North Press that the residents of the cities and towns of the western country side of Deir ez-Zor have resorted to using wood for cooking, and kerosene for daily usage due to the high costs and unavailability of fuel.

Some people depend on sticks of cotton for cooking because it is highly flammable but it cannot be used for heating, she added.

Residents of the villages of the western and eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor use charcoal for heating due to its long burning time but it cannot be used for cooking.

24-kg-gas cylinders are available at some dealers, who sell them at 48,000 SYP which is very high price, according to a local source.

Abdullah al-Sam’o, who sells gas cylinders in al-Tabani, told North Press that the gas has been interrupted since mid-February, and all shops stopped working because of that.  

He pointed out that his business is limited to buying and selling empty gas cylinders in addition to maintenance works.

Government forces checkpoints located on the banks of the Euphrates River, west of Deir ez-Zor, prevent residents from bringing fuel and gas cylinders from the SDF-controlled areas, as part of the “stifling” policy, according to residents.

Reporting by Aya al-Ahmad