Gas Crisis in Hama as authorities describe it as “Emergency Issue”

Residents of Hama were taken by surprise by a sharp shortage in the availability of household gas cylinders coinciding with the arrival of the month of Ramadan. This led to the closure of dozens of restaurants and prompted many families to revert to using “kerosene stoves” and firewood, which are available alternatives, while cylinder prices on the black market rose to more than double their official price.

Amid widespread dissatisfaction, the media office of the Hama Fuel Branch described the situation as an “emergency issue” that would soon see relief, attributing the cause to delays in the arrival of liquefied gas shipments to the country. It stated that improvement would occur once bottling units resume operating at full capacity.

During a tour conducted by ANHA correspondent in the city’s neighborhoods, long queues of citizens were recorded, with people waiting for hours to obtain a gas cylinder. Witnesses reported that the official price of approximately 125,000 Syrian pounds had risen on the black market to between 200,000 and 250,000 pounds.

The owner of a Foul and Falafel restaurant in the city center confirmed that he had closed his shop for two days after the price of an industrial gas cylinder exceeded 500,000 pounds, noting the difficulty of covering costs without placing additional burdens on customers.

Sanaa Mahmoud, who relies on preparing homemade Ramadan meals as a source of income, explained that she was forced to return to using a kerosene stove despite its harmful effects, due to the unavailability of gas or its sale at inflated prices.

Activists on social media widely circulated criticisms of the official statement, arguing that promises of a “near breakthrough” have been repeated during previous crises without tangible results, while residents continue to struggle to secure their basic needs.

Between official assurances that the crisis will soon end and the daily reality of rising prices and difficulty in obtaining the commodity, questions persist regarding the reasons behind the acute gas shortage and the mechanisms for addressing it.

ANHA