HAMA, Syria (North Press) – For days, military security checkpoints in the city of Hama, central Syria, have been confiscating small amounts of fuel from residents.
Residents of Hama, who need fuel for heating and cars, expressed their dissatisfaction with the government checkpoints’ mistreatment of them at the city’s entrances.
Hama resident Fawaz al-Saman accused members of the military security of confiscating fuel to sell on the black market.
“I bought 100 liters of fuel from Ma’rin village. Members at the checkpoint stopped me and confiscated the containers I was carrying under the pretext of following orders,” he told North Press.
He failed to persuade the members to deliver the fuel to his house in return for 1,000 Syrian pounds (SYP), as he used to do.
Fuel trucks owned by gas stations refuse to deliver fuel to homes “under the pretext that it is intended for very large quantities and for factories,” according to the residents.
Hama resident Khalid al-Shimali told North Press that he bought liters of fuel from the black market near Jisr la-Mizarib, north of the city.
“When I was passing by al-Sabahi checkpoint, which is affiliated with the political security, they took the small fuel containers that I have and emptied one of them, saying that importing fuel is forbidden,” he added.
“So where are we going to get fuel from? The country gives us 100 liters each year, which is not enough for a month, as if it wants the citizens to die from starvation and cold,” he wondered.