Battered economy squeezes, exacerbates scenes of hardship on Syria's streets

Wherever you walk through the streets of the capital, Damascus, you find elderly people sitting and leaning against sidewalks, selling rural products or working at a makeshift bread stall. Some, whose health allows, pull garbage carts in search of sustenance under these difficult circumstances and the deteriorating living conditions following the lifting of subsidies and the transition from a social economy to a free market economy.

In the Al-Fahama district of Damascus, an elderly man who identified himself as Abu Nadim sat in front of his bread stall. With trembling hands, he said he was unhappy with the municipal police's crackdown on stall owners and their attempts to prevent them from working. He added, "More than once, they confiscated several bundles of bread from me, and I returned home devastated by the price. I go to several bakeries to collect bundles of bread, carry them on my shoulder, and sit in this corner to sell them. I buy a bundle for 4,000 Syrian pounds and sell it for 6,000. My daily income sometimes reaches 50,000 pounds, which covers the cost of bread, a meal for the family, and a box of medicine."

Uncle Abu Nadim pointed out that he is 74 years old and a retired pensioner receiving 700,000 pounds, an amount insufficient for food and drink. He has a daughter at home with special needs. He mentioned that asking for help is very difficult for him, as he works hard and sits on the sidewalk for several hours until he returns home.

Abu Nadim's situation is similar to that of dozens of residents of rural Damascus who sell rural products on the sidewalks to secure a livelihood. Their only problem is the harassment they face from the municipal police, or what is known as "the sheikh," who prevents them from working. University professor Qais Muhammad (a pseudonym) confirmed to ANHA agency that the return of the elderly to work is a widespread phenomenon in Syria, especially in the capital, Damascus. He attributed this to the dismissal of young people from their jobs and the reliance on the elderly for cleaning work, which poses significant health risks to them. He called for a ban on this profession for anyone over 55 years of age.

Muhammad added that the elderly are also forced to return to work due to the dire need for medical care, given the soaring cost of consultations (up to 150,000 Syrian pounds) and the expense of purchasing medications. Furthermore, this age group is not included in the salary increases scheduled for the end of this month, and they lack health insurance. He pointed out that those without external support face extremely difficult circumstances, while the situation is even worse for those with no source of income whatsoever, due to the rising cost of living.

Muhammad stated that governments that fail to value, respect, and provide food, water, and medicine for the elderly are "undeserving of appreciation and respect." He called for attention to be paid to this group and for them to be protected, emphasizing that seeing them working in the streets, both in winter and summer, is a heartbreaking sight. The Syrian economy is expected to continue its sharp decline throughout 2026, with soaring inflation and a significant drop in purchasing power, as the gap between income and the cost of living widens.

Economic experts estimate that the Syrian pound's exchange rate in the parallel market has fluctuated wildly, exceeding levels of 12,000 to 15,000 pounds to the dollar at various times. This volatility is attributed to the currency's continued devaluation due to weak production, dwindling resources, and increased reliance on imports.

They also noted that this coincides with the ongoing removal of subsidies on many essential goods and services, which has directly impacted the prices of food, energy, and transportation.

Furthermore, UN reports and economic studies indicate that more than 90% of the population lives below the poverty line in Syria, amidst inflation rates that are classified as triple or even hyperinflation in some estimates, and low average wages compared to the rising costs of living, healthcare, and rent. Experts confirm that this ongoing economic contraction has led to the expansion of the informal labor phenomenon and the return of large groups, including the elderly, to the labor market to secure their basic needs, amid the absence of effective social protection systems and the decline in the ability of institutions to control living stability.

ANHA