Limited flour supplies push Swedia to brink of bread crisis

The crisis surrounding bread provision in Swedia continues, as all bakeries have ceased operations due to depleted flour stocks and the interruption of weekly supplies, amid ongoing security tensions and the closure of the Damascus–Swedia road.

Earlier today, a shipment estimated at approximately 500 tons of flour reached storage facilities in Swedia. However, residents stressed that the quantity is insufficient to offset the accumulated deficit caused by the prolonged disruption, leaving the crisis unresolved for the time being.

Several residents reported that the city has been experiencing a severe bread shortage for days, forcing many to seek alternatives at significantly higher prices.

Khaled Al-Shater, a restaurant owner in Swedia, stated that they have been struggling with the absence of subsidized bread and are compelled to purchase commercial bread if available to meet their needs, asserting that residents are “being deprived of their very livelihood.”

For his part, Qassem Abdul Samad, owner of Al-Sukkari Bakery, explained that the primary cause of the crisis is the repeated interruption of subsidized flour supplies to bakeries, compounded by the closure of the Damascus–Swedia road, which has led to a complete halt in deliveries.

Meanwhile, citizen Ghazi al-Maaini described the crisis as unprecedented, noting that bread has been unavailable for five days, with brief periods of relief followed by renewed shortages. He questioned the fate of families with children, pointing out that residents have been forced to purchase bran or barley bread at inflated prices. Al-Maaini criticized the deteriorating living conditions in the region and called on the relevant authorities to assume their responsibilities.

Abdul Karim Al-Atwani, another resident of the city, remarked that the recurring bread crisis has become a familiar and burdensome reality for the population. He argued that the continued disruptions reinforce a sense among residents that they are being driven toward hunger, particularly children, who bear the greatest cost. He expressed firm opposition to such circumstances, stressing that people’s basic sustenance must remain insulated from any political tensions or disputes.

ANHA