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QAMISHLI, Syria – Less than a week into Ramadan, food prices in northern Syria are as much as 30 percent higher than they were last year, spreading concern among shoppers about how they will make ends meet.
“My salary is 40,000 [Syrian pounds, $77],” said Mohammed al-Ayd who has worked in an oilfield in Rmeilan for 25 years. “If I buy a kilo of tomatoes and a kilo of eggplant every day, my salary will not cover it.”
Prices in the bazaars of northern Syria are affected by a slew of factors including fluctuations in the value of the Syrian pound, sanctions on the country, high transportation costs made worse by the fuel crisis in regime-held areas, and shuttered borders with neighbouring states.
The Kurdish self-governing administration of northern Syria, which controls roughly a third of the country, operates under constant strife. It has avoided large-scale military confrontation with the regime, but relations with Damascus are rocky. The administration wants to maintain some of its autonomy within a federal Syria, but the government wants to bring the region, which includes oil fields and rich agricultural lands, firmly back under its control. In addition, the border with Turkey is sealed off and prospects for future stability in northern Syria are grim as Turkey threatens a military offensive against the Kurdish armed forces.
Street vendors say they have no choice but to raise prices, because their suppliers are selling produce at higher rates.
“It depends on where they come from. Those coming through Kurdistan [Region]’s border crossing are cheap while others coming from local areas such as Latakia and Aleppo are expensive because – as some businessmen say – they are taxed twice: by friends and the regime,” explained Shamsaddin Ali, a vendor in Qamishli’s market.
Vendors say they prefer fruit and vegetables grown in Syria, which are better quality than those imported from the Kurdistan Region.
The local administration is trying to control prices, but they can’t make vendors sell at a loss.
“We conduct daily patrols in the bazaar. We also monitor the businessmen. We check invoices and tell them a rate that should be passed on to the vendor and the customer,” said Saeed Piro, head of quality control for Qamishli municipality.
Back in the market, Mohammed al-Ayd is worried his family won’t be able to celebrate the end of the holy month of fasting for Muslims. With his pay cheque already stretched thin, “What about bread, daily expenses, and clothes for children to wear on Eid?” he asked.
“My salary is 40,000 [Syrian pounds, $77],” said Mohammed al-Ayd who has worked in an oilfield in Rmeilan for 25 years. “If I buy a kilo of tomatoes and a kilo of eggplant every day, my salary will not cover it.”
Prices in the bazaars of northern Syria are affected by a slew of factors including fluctuations in the value of the Syrian pound, sanctions on the country, high transportation costs made worse by the fuel crisis in regime-held areas, and shuttered borders with neighbouring states.
The Kurdish self-governing administration of northern Syria, which controls roughly a third of the country, operates under constant strife. It has avoided large-scale military confrontation with the regime, but relations with Damascus are rocky. The administration wants to maintain some of its autonomy within a federal Syria, but the government wants to bring the region, which includes oil fields and rich agricultural lands, firmly back under its control. In addition, the border with Turkey is sealed off and prospects for future stability in northern Syria are grim as Turkey threatens a military offensive against the Kurdish armed forces.
Street vendors say they have no choice but to raise prices, because their suppliers are selling produce at higher rates.
“It depends on where they come from. Those coming through Kurdistan [Region]’s border crossing are cheap while others coming from local areas such as Latakia and Aleppo are expensive because – as some businessmen say – they are taxed twice: by friends and the regime,” explained Shamsaddin Ali, a vendor in Qamishli’s market.
Vendors say they prefer fruit and vegetables grown in Syria, which are better quality than those imported from the Kurdistan Region.
The local administration is trying to control prices, but they can’t make vendors sell at a loss.
“We conduct daily patrols in the bazaar. We also monitor the businessmen. We check invoices and tell them a rate that should be passed on to the vendor and the customer,” said Saeed Piro, head of quality control for Qamishli municipality.
Back in the market, Mohammed al-Ayd is worried his family won’t be able to celebrate the end of the holy month of fasting for Muslims. With his pay cheque already stretched thin, “What about bread, daily expenses, and clothes for children to wear on Eid?” he asked.
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