Al-Suwayda, Baladi News
Al-Suwayda governorate is witnessing a state of economic malaise in food prices, which led the prices of goods to change every hour and people are unable to buy their basic needs due to the price variation.
One kilogram of sugar or rice soared to 500 SYP, whereas one kilo of flour reached 250 SYP, and one liter of vegetable oil or ghee touched 1200 SYP. As for the fruit, which Al-Suwayda governorate is famous for, it has become a luxury for many citizens due to the uncontrolled rise in its prices, which can be attributed to the rise in the prices of pesticides and transferring fees let alone the rise in other goods and commodities. Moreover, the electric and electronic galleries have become showrooms only till the price of the foreign exchange rate (Dollar) stabilizes.
"This policy that exhausted the residents of Al-Suwayda governorate and comes within the framework of the starvation policy adopted by Syrian regime against the cities that are not under his control, as it gave the free rein to the influential traders in the city to manipulate the prices in order to subjugate the citizens", according to a local activist.
Concurrently with the high prices in the main products, transportation companies also raised their fees without issuing any formal resolution, where Al-Tawfik and Al-Shabaa' companies raised the transportation fees from 500 SYP to 800 SYP from Al-Suwayda to Damascus despite the fact that the fuel prices are still stable.
Such rise in prices came in conjunction with the exams of university students where most of them were unable to take their exams for this semester. "I can't take my exams for this term because the trip from Al-Suwayda to Damascus has become double the price of last term as a result of the rise in the transportation fees and the high prices of the basic needs so it became quite difficult to provide the expenses for my stay in Damascus," according to one of the students.
Al-Suwayda governorate is witnessing strict measures after complaints made by influential traders against stall owners claiming that they are distorting the image of the streets in the city. The governor of Al-Suwayda issued several warnings against the owners of stalls saying that they will remove them which led the owners to declare that they will fight for their bread and butter till the last breath.
The economic malaise affected all aspects of life in the governorate teetering on the edge of abject poverty and the disability to provide its simplest needs. So, will Al-Suwayda witness a hunger revolution?