The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Sweida discontent: protests renew against poor living conditions

Al-Suwayda Governorate – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

SOHR activists and eyewitnesses report that a sit-in was held in front of the Faculty of Education in Sweida city as a complement to the campaign that launched in mid-January by the city’s residents with the slogan “we want to live”, protesting deteriorating economic conditions that the city’s residents are going through in particular.

On January 20, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored sporadic protests in Sweida city southern Syria, where a number of people gathered outside the Palace of Justice. Protesters took to the streets in several areas of Sweida as part of “we want yo live” campaign, which was met by popular interaction by Sweida residents.

The Syrian Observatory monitored on the 18th of January 2020 that dozens of Sweida residents continue to protest deteriorating living conditions and rising commodity prices as Syrian pound plummets to historic lows.

Activists told SOHR that dozens of residents gathered outside the ‘governorate’ building in the city, for the fourth day in a row, protesters carried banners saying “We are peaceful, we have the right to live”, and ” We took to the streets because of you.”

On January 17, the Syrian Observatory reported that dozens of Sweida governorate residents in southern Syria, gathered in Shahba Square to protest deteriorating economic conditions, for the third day in a row, chanting “We want to live”.

Protesters carried banners in the town square, denouncing the collapse of the Syrian pound, whose exchange rate against the U.S. dollar reached 1,250, and government corruption, also demanded better living conditions, price control and holding corrupt accountable.