Medya News
Subscribe
  • Home
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • Ecology
  • Economy
  • Culture & Art
  • Daily Show
  • More
    • Audio Articles
    • Newsletter
Videos
PODCAST
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • Ecology
  • Economy
  • Culture & Art
  • Daily Show
  • More
    • Audio Articles
    • Newsletter
Videos
PODCAST
No Result
View All Result
Medya News

North East Syria: Damascus makes life difficult for people of Shahba

As an embargo imposed by the Damascus government remains in place in Shahba, images of locals standing in queues for hours at petrol stations to buy fuel call to mind World War II.

11:26 am 13/07/2021
A A
Share this
FacebookTwitterRedditEmailLinkedInWhatsApp

In the spring of 1943, people in Oslo reportedly queued for a whole 14 hours just to buy butter. The conditions of the second world war restricted the distribution of food and other goods. The sight of women and children standing in queues for food was commonplace in cities across Europe.

Lack of food and staple products have always haunted civilian populations in conflict. This pattern is repeating itself across Syria today, especially in the northeast, where the Damascus regime has imposed a strict embargo.

The civilian population of Shahba has to cope with severe shortages of food and other consumer goods because the Damascus government is restricting supplies of fuel, food and basic living requirements.

Shahba has also become a temporary home to people of Afrin who have been displaced from their own homes by occupying forces led by Turkey. Local news agency ANHA reports that lorries carrying fuel and food have been unable to get into the town due to restrictions imposed by Damascus.

The cost of living has doubled due to the embargo. The people are suffering from a shortage of all staples and fuel is now being sold in the black market. The requirements of the region are 60 tanks of fuel each week but the Damascus Government allows only 20 tanks through every two months.

In order to prevent the people suffering still further from exploitation by the black market on top of the embargo, Afrin Regional Fuel Committee has started the distribution of fuel at a fair price in the Fafin district of Shahba.

The committee is only able to sell 20 litres per vehicle. Vehicle owners wait in long queues to buy 20 litres of diesel.

As people of Shahba, many of them refugees from Afrin, wait in queues, it is apparent that in this war, nothing much has changed since the spring of 1943.

“I come to the petrol station at 3 am and queue for hours to buy 20 litres of diesel. We are suffering terribly because of the blockade,” said Horik Sido, a resident in the queue.

Sido was displaced from Afrin and came to Shahba. “The Turkish state and its gangs plundered our houses. Now, the Damascus government is doing similar. Families struggle to get hold of a litre of petrol,” he said.

Mihemed Eli stated that their living conditions have been getting harder every day due to the embargo. “The delivery of staple foods, medical supplies and fuel are all restricted. In the meantime, the Turkish state and their gangs are bombarding Shahba with mortars every day. They directly target civilians. But we will not leave our lands despite all the attacks. Our resistance will go on,” he said.

Arif Emin, a member of Fafin District Council and Social Affairs Committee, criticised the Damascus government: “Why is the Damascus government imposing an embargo on us, are we not Syrian citizens? The Damascus government is blocking delivery of all staples. This has a negative effect on everybody. The continuation of the embargo in this heat is causing diseases,” he said.

“The Damascus government should be lobbying for international pressure on Turkey to withdraw from Afrin instead of imposing an embargo on the people displaced from the area.”

Mihemed Kusa, member of the Fuel Distribution Committee, pointed out that the main reasons for the economic crisis were the Damascus government’s embargo and the closing of the border points.

The committee distributes fuel to villages and towns, but the allocation of such a small amount of fuel is not an easy task.

As they try to solve problems created by the central government, the committee also has to cope with many other issues. Agricultural land has gone to waste, Kusa said, “because we have not been able to supply enough fuel. We are experiencing serious difficulties, especially with bakeries and water supply stations.”

”The crowds waiting in the queues for fuel are also challenging for us, it is not easy to control such crowds. The Damascus government allows the delivery of 20 tanks of fuel every two months, but that is not even enough for agricultural vehicles and generators.”

Share this
FacebookTwitterRedditEmailLinkedInWhatsApp

Related Posts

Turkey: Main opposition leader accuses president of transferring funds to US

Turkey: Main opposition leader accuses president of transferring funds to US

May 28, 2022
NATO wages Turkey’s war as Turkish gov’t heads to failure: KCK Co-chair Bayık

Kurds must stand against Turkey’s bans, anti-Kurdish policies: KCK Co-chair Bayık

May 27, 2022
Elderly Kurdish man of 85 kept behind bars despite worsening health

Elderly Kurdish man of 85 kept behind bars despite worsening health

May 27, 2022
Zarakolu: Turkey’s demands to extradite Kakabaveh

Zarakolu: Turkey’s demands to extradite Kakabaveh

May 27, 2022
Roger Waters repeats call to free musician Nûdem Durak

Roger Waters repeats call to free musician Nûdem Durak

May 27, 2022
Turkish airstrike kills at least two children in Iraqi Kurdistan

Turkish airstrike kills at least two children in Iraqi Kurdistan

May 27, 2022

Videos

Medya News Daily Review: 26 May 2022
DAILYSHOW

Medya News Daily Review: 27 May 2022

May 27, 2022

All News

Turkey: Main opposition leader accuses president of transferring funds to US

Kurds must stand against Turkey’s bans, anti-Kurdish policies: KCK Co-chair Bayık

Elderly Kurdish man of 85 kept behind bars despite worsening health

Medya News Daily Review: 27 May 2022

Zarakolu: Turkey’s demands to extradite Kakabaveh

Roger Waters repeats call to free musician Nûdem Durak

Medya News

Impressum

About us

Privacy Policy

Subscribe
Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • World
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • Ecology
  • Economy
  • Culture & Art
  • Daily Show
  • Newsletter
  • Authors
  • Podcast

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Loading
Contact