Growing popular anger | Regime government issues new decision raising price of sugar and rice, with lack of electricity, water and fuel

The Syrian regime’s government has issued a new decision, raising the price of state-subsidized sugar and rice, which are given via smart card. Regime government has set the prices as follows:

 

• Sugar: 500 SYL per kilo

 

• Rice: 600 SYL per kilo.

 

The new decision has ignited wide popular anger and discontent throughout the areas controlled by the Syrian regime, especially with the current crises, including the astronomically inflated prices of essential products, at a time when the average salary of an official in the state sector approximates 20 USD, (65,000 SYL) while an official in the private sector gets a salary of nearly 50 USD (160,000 SYL). It is worth noting that a medium-class family of four members in regime-held areas needs over one million Syrian pounds to be able to secure their basic needs, especially with the lack of electricity with the heat wave striking Syria and acute shortage of fuel and bread.

 

A few days ago, SOHR sources reported that a stifling electricity hardship was hitting throughout regime-controlled areas in light of the current heat wave, as the hours of rationing were increased to nearly 22, and reached 48 hours in other areas where electricity was available for only one hour. Accordingly, popular discontent was growing in areas under the control of the Syrian regime, especially with the astronomically inflated prices of basic products and other crises, including gas crisis and poor transportation services.