Living conditions become more awry south of Syria’s Hasakah
SHADDADI, Syria (North Press) – Adnan al-Omar, 39, a resident of the city of Shaddadi south of Hasakah, northeast Syria, is unable to manage affairs of his family after the recent deterioration in the value of the Syrian pound recorded against the USD.
Adnan, a father of six-membered family subsides on a motorbike, says he spends the whole day on the main road transferring people in or outside the city just to manage the hard living conditions.
He said, “Amid rocketing prices, I am no longer able to manage basic needs of my family.”
In the last two weeks, price of basic needs in Shaddadi rose 20%, according to locals and owners of shops.
This owes in part to the devaluation of the Syrian pound against the USD.
Last week, one USD cost 4.500 Syrian pounds (SYP).
Al-Omar indicates that he earns 7.000 SYP on a daily basis, “Living conditions have become more difficult, if these conditions go on, life would be very hard.”
33-year-old Ali al-Ragheb is resentful as he looks at the displayed products in front of a shop that has become very expensive.
He said while he was forced to buy some limited quantities, adopting an austere expenditure, “The changing value of the Syrian pound is a pretext owners of shops use to raise the prices.”
Pointing to a number of shops, he said, “There is difference in prices from one shop to another. This reaches sometimes a 1.000 SYP and more.”
Al-Ragheb, among other Shaddadi residents, says the supply committee should increase watching and be more active.
The committee distributes the price bill from time to time to owners of the shops; however, the latter do not abide by that.
The Supply Committee refused to comment on the mechanism by which it watches and controls prices or even if they fine those breaching bills.
In a shop that sells food products, Sami al-Naser, a shop owner, said, “The bills are not precise mostly and if they abide by they would incur mass losses.”
Though the food in his shops was bought before the recent devaluation in the Syrian pound, the seller affirmed the USD changing value was the main reason behind high prices.
Al-Naser adds the [supply] committee does not control prices; merchants are controlling the market with no deterrence.