Al-Raqqa | Public discontent grows over the loss of fuel at gas stations, amid accusations against officials of stealing the city’s fuel allocations
Reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory that the city of Raqqa, which is under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, is experiencing growing popular discontent due to the loss of fuel from gas stations. According to Syrian Observatory, the daily allocation of the city of Raqqa of subsidized fuel by “Self-Administration” is estimated at about 35 tanks, some of which are distributed to gas stations, while the rest are sold on the free market.
Here is a list of fuel prices:
- One liter of diesel is sold at 125 Syrian pounds at gas stations, while on the free market is sold at a price of 500 pounds.
- One liter of gasoline is sold at 200 Syrian pounds at gas stations, while on the free market is sold at a price of 700 pounds.
- The subsidized gas cylinder is sold 2,800 Syrian pounds, while on the free market is sold at a price of 1,500 pounds, at different weights.
Meanwhile, residents accuse officials of stealing at least three kilograms of each subsidized gas cylinder, before distributing them to the residents.
On January 3, SOHR sources said that the areas held by the “Self-Administration” and SDF in Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, Ain al-Arab (Kobani) and Manbij in Aleppo countryside were witnessing popular discontent over the fuel crisis within their areas, and the differences in prices between the regions, despite the control of SDF and the Coalition on the oil fields, east of the Euphrates.
The fuel crisis is concentrated in that areas, unlike Hasakeh province, which does not suffer from fuel crisis.
Popular discontent has recently grown due to the theft of the majority of the fuel allocations provided by SDF to these areas, by officials and those responsible for distribution, in addition to the spread of fuel smuggling operations to areas held by the Syrian regime and Ankara-backed factions.
The price of a liter of diesel in the “Self-Administration” areas ranges from 150 Syrian pounds to 450 pounds depending on the area and is available at gas stations and free-sale places. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored this morning long lines of cars queuing outside a gas station in the countryside of the city of Ain al-Arab “Kobani”.
In mid-December, SOHR sources monitored the growing corruption in areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration and Syria Democratic Forces in northern and north-eastern Syria region. In this report, SOHR tries to shed light on the looting of subsidized gasoline allocations in Al-Raqqah province where the residents are struggling with the greediness of officials and other individuals involved in selling gasoline allocated to the province to other merchants who, in turn, sell it to people at higher prices, just like duty-free gasoline is sold.
According to SOHR sources, 33 oil trucks carrying gasoline enter Al-Raqqah daily from oil fields in Rumaylan. These trucks are supposed to be unloaded in gas stations where gasoline is sold to people for 100 SYL per liter. However, only four trucks arrive in gas stations, while the cargos of the other trucks are sold by officials in the province to merchants who sell gasoline in the black market for 500 SYL per litre.
Moreover, fuel is smuggled to areas under the control of Turkish-backed factions in Tal Abyad.
It is worth noting that the capacity of each oil truck equals 130 barrels and each barrel contain 220 liter of gasoline. Furthermore, gasoline allocated to residents in Al-Raqqah has not been distributed yet, although it gasoline allocations have been distributed to the people of Manbij, Ain Al-Arab (Kobani) and other areas.
We, at the Syrian Observatory, demand the Autonomous Administration and SDF put an end to the violations and growing corruption in areas under their control, hold corrupt official accountable, and give the residents their fuel allocations in Al-Raqqah and every area controlled by the Autonomous Administration and SDF.