Lack of foodstuffs, high prices in besieged Shahba

Since the displacement of the people of the occupied Afrin canton to Shahba canton in March 2018, the Damascus government has imposed a stifling siege on the displaced people of Afrin, preventing the passage of medicines, basic materials, and fuel.

As a result of this stifling siege, many items and commodities witnessed increase in the prices, which negatively affects the living conditions of the people of Shahba District and the displaced.

Devaluation of the Syrian pound has negatively affected the living situation throughout Syria, especially the displaced people of Afrin, who are also suffering from the stifling siege imposed by the Damascus government.

The province is witnessing a significant increase in the prices of goods and foodstuffs, amid the loss of other goods and materials, most notably fuel and gas cylinders.

The price of a kilo of meat in the province, for example, is 130,000 Syrian pounds, up from 80,000, like all materials and goods, the price is witnessing a significant increase.

The co-chair of the Federation of Afrin and Shahba cantons, Nouri Hassan, reported that: “The siege imposed on al-Shahba canton has burdened the displaced people of Afrin and the residents of Shahba, and there is a lack of materials necessary for living.”

He explained to ANHA agency that the materials available in the district are sold for tens of times their price, which has negatively affected the living conditions of the people.

He attributed this to the siege, saying: “We live in an area besieged by the Damascus government on the one hand and the occupation and its mercenaries on the other hand, not to mention the continuous bombing on a daily basis. The materials that enter the district are paid royalties, and each merchant has his own way of entering these materials, which makes it difficult to control their prices.”

At the conclusion of his speech, Hassan called on human rights and humanitarian organizations to put pressure on the Damascus government to lift the siege on the displaced people of Afrin, who are living in the worst conditions in Syria.

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ANHA