Fuel crisis worsened in SDF-held areas | Subsidised diesel shortage prompts long queues in front of petrol stations
Al-Hasakah province: SOHR activists have reported seeing long queues in front of petrol stations in Al-Malikiyah (Derek) city in areas controlled by “Autonomous-Administration”, due to a lack of fuel provided by public fuel service, where car owners wait for long hours.
According to Syrian Observatory activists, the amount of diesel distributed by the Public Fuel Service do not meet civilians’ needs.
Earlier, civilians appealed and demanded Al-Qamishli’s public fuel service to increase allocations of fuel in Al-Malikiyah city (Derek), but they received no response.
It is worth noting that the petrol station quota of 20,000 litres of diesel is distributed to civilians’ cars, however, due to the lack of control and accountability by the fuel services, most car owners do not receive enough diesel, despite waiting long hours in front of the petrol stations.
On August 12, SOHR activists reported that areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration in Aleppo, Al-Raqqah, Al-Hasakah and Deir Ezzor provinces are experiencing severe shortage of diesel, while long queues of vehicles are seen awaiting in front of petrol stations on a daily basis. The worsening crisis triggered public anger and resentment, especially since the price of subsidised diesel, which is sold at petrol station when it is available, has increased from 85 SYP to 410 SYP per litre in only two months and a half. Also, the price of diesel which is sold on black markets has increased from 450 SYP to 1,250 SYP per litre.
According to SOHR sources, the shortage of diesel is attributed to the corruption of some officials in charge of fuel affairs in areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration, as these officials loot subsidised diesel and sell it at higher prices to merchants on black markets instead of distributing it fairly to petrol stations. In addition, smuggling of fuel to regime-controlled areas and areas under the control of Turkish-backed factions has exacerbated the situation further.