Broad popular discontent | Autonomous Administration raises price of bread loaf to 500 SYL

SOHR activists have reported that the Autonomous Administration in northern and eastern Syria has issued a decree raising the price of the pita-bread, that most of the population in the areas is depending on, due to the shortage of automated bakery bread.

The Autonomous Administration issued the decree yesterday, September 18, which set the price of one loaf of pita-bread that weighs 300 grams to 500 SYL.

The decree has been met with broad popular discontent.

A civilian from al-Qamishly told SOHR activists, “given the ongoing miserable conditions in terms of deprivation, poverty and displacement due to some mismanagement and mistakes that can be avoided easily via some economic solutions, such decisions negatively impact the living conditions of population who have experienced difficult economic conditions,” adding that raising prices of oil or bread encourages citizens to seek immigration or displacement in search for better conditions.”

K.A., told SOHR, “we used to buy pita-bread because the automated baked bread is not usually available and not in good quality. But, after its price hiked to 500 Liras, he won’t be able to buy ten loaves daily to meet his family needs of bread for the next day, because the new prices constitutes unbearable financial burden.”

Bakery owner in the region known initially as “H.S.” said that “the bread sales have declined by more than half after the Autonomous Administration raised the prices, because the population can’t afford buying it,” noting he started to bake 28 bags of flour compared to 50 bags before the rise of bread prices.

Generally, Syria suffers from harsh living conditions due to the ongoing war that Syria has been suffering for nearly 11 years. Meanwhile, the SDF-held areas suffer similar harsh conditions though these areas are rich with oil, natural and underground resources.