Two flour trucks arrive in Sweida after bakeries shut down

Following a complete halt in bakery operations on Tuesday due to depleted flour supplies, two trucks loaded with flour arrived yesterday in Sweida and its surrounding areas, according to local residents.

The trucks were sent to the city of Sweida and to Salkhad, but it is still unknown whether additional shipments will arrive today or tomorrow.

Most public bakeries in Sweida and its countryside had completely stopped operating yesterday as a result of running out of flour and the lack of new deliveries, worsening residents’ difficulties in securing bread.

Residents told ANHA correspondents that the cities of Sweida, Shahba, and Salkhad, along with several private bakeries, did not distribute bread at all on Wednesday, as queues grew longer and complaints mounted over the absence of this essential staple.

According to locals, the bread crisis in Sweida stems from the Syrian transitional government’s suspension of wheat supplies to the region since the blockade imposed in mid-July following the latest military escalation. As a result, bakeries have come to rely almost entirely on aid from the World Food Programme and the Red Crescent, though this remains insufficient. Sweida and its countryside require more than 120 tons of flour daily, while current deliveries cover only about half that amount.

ANHA correspondents noted that the central automated bakery in Sweida city is working at full capacity to meet demand, yet it faces severe challenges due to shortages of both flour and diesel.

During a previous field visit, Fadi al-Shaarani, head of the Sweida Relief Committee, emphasized the urgent need to increase allocations and secure a reserve stock of no less than 100 tons to confront emergencies.

Activists warn of serious repercussions for food security in Sweida if urgent measures are not taken to increase and stabilize flour supplies. The continuing fuel crisis and frequent bakery shutdowns risk reviving the specter of blockade once again.

A-H

ANHA