KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Ismail Manan, who lives in the countryside of Kobani, north Syria, is forced to travel dozens of kilometers to get to work in the city.
The 19-year-old Manan, a resident of the village of Seftek, 16 km west of Kobani, said he has to travel all this distance to work and provide for his family after his father passed away two years ago.
Daily workers with low income suffer from deteriorating living conditions as a result of the declining exchange rate of the Syrian pound against the US dollar.
Although Manan makes 70.000 SYP a week, which does not cover the basics for the family, he finds himself forced to continue this job as there is no substitute.
Recently, the Syrian pound has collapsed against foreign currencies, hitting a record down where one USD reached 7.100 SYP before witnessing a slight improvement last weekend by almost 1.000 SYP less.
Manan is forced to continue working at his job because there are no job opportunities amid the continuous Turkish shelling of Kobani and its countryside which led many professionals to immigrate.
In November 2022, Turkey escalated its attacks against areas in north Syria, targeting civilians and military personnel of both the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the government forces deploy on border areas northeast the country.
The Turkish military escalation via warplanes, drones and artillery mainly hit vital infrastructures in the region that are resources of living for the people of the region.
With a low income, Manan struggles to provide his family with basic needs, especially since most traders sell according to the USD exchange rate while Manan and his peers get paid in SYP.
Lately, food prices have soared in tandem with the increasing exchange rate of foreign currencies against the Syrian pound as well as increasing medical consultations fees and medication in general.
The 45-year-old Khalil Muslem expresses his dissatisfaction for being paid in the Syrian pound at a time when traders sell goods in the USD in light of soaring prices and declining business in the city.
Muslem, who makes 20.000 SYP, works in the construction business and has been affected like many others by the declining urban movement in the city.
In winter, construction work is suspended therefore work days decrease in general. Most constructors do not work more than ten days a month.
The 36-year-old Marwan Anzi, who hails from Kobani, says his daily wage does not cover the expenses of one liter of cooking oil. He makes 15.000 SYP daily, forcing him to abstain from buying many basics.
He, like many people of Kobani, is forced to do this because of low wages and few job opportunities along with high prices
As a result of the hyperinflation that is hitting the Syrian economy, daily workers in different areas in north and east Syria cannot make ends meet.