Hasakah bakeries halt operations over new currency payments

Bakeries in Hasakah Governorate halted operations on Thursday after mills affiliated with the Syrian Transitional Government refused to sell flour in the old Syrian currency, requiring bakery owners to pay in the new Syrian currency or through the "Sham Cash" system, at a time when markets across the governorate are almost entirely lacking the new currency.

In this context, ANHA agency held an interview with Ismail Darwish, head of the Bakers' Union in Qamishlo, to discuss the bakery crisis and possible solutions.

Ismail stressed that the crisis is not related to bakery owners, but rather to the management of the mills, which refused to sell flour except in the new Syrian lira or through the "Sham Cash" system.

He added that bakery owners do not have the new Syrian currency, which led to the suspension of bakeries on Thursday in Qamishlo city and its surrounding areas. He noted that all bakeries in the city have stopped operating due to the failure to distribute flour, as a result of the new currency not being available in the markets.

He made clear that authorized distributors in Hasakah pay the amounts owed through the Grain Administration in Qamishlo. He added that bakery owners, despite approaching the relevant authorities, have been unable to obtain flour, amid mills’ insistence on transactions being made either in the new Syrian lira or through "Sham Cash."

Ismail noted that a similar issue had occurred previously and was resolved at the time. However, the problem resurfaced on Thursday, with efforts underway by the relevant authorities to contain the crisis, alongside promises to resolve it within the next two days.

He added that the bread crisis poses a major challenge for residents in securing their daily food needs, especially amid the lack of new Syrian currency in the city.

Ismail said they had contacted the Qamishlo Administration, which is following up on the issue, adding that the Bakery Union Administration is also working to contain the crisis.

For its part, the city's Grain Administration confirmed that the mills' decision to refuse transactions using the old Syrian pound was based on a decision by the Central Bank, which requires rejecting the circulation of any currency other than the new Syrian currency or transactions through the "Sham Cash" system.

ANHA