Chronic crises in regime-held areas | Long queues persist outside “Syrian Institution of Trade” in Damascus despite providing subsidised goods via “Smart ration cards”

All Syrian provinces controlled by the regime forces, particularly the Syrian capital, Damascus, have seen a dramatic increase in the already high prices of all kinds of goods, foodstuffs, and supplies.

The soaring prices coincide with numerous other crises, such as the lack of fuel and the high fares of transportation. Nevertheless, some traders monopolised goods and sold them at double prices to exploit the needs of civilians.

Today, SOHR activists have toured the area of Sayeda Zeinab park in Damascus, monitoring a long line of civilians in front of the Syrian Institution of Trade, waiting for buying sugar at a subsidised price of 2,300 Syrian pounds per kilo.

Today, “SOHR camera” has also captured vehicles affiliated with the Syrian Institution of Trade distributing sugar to the outlets of the institution in Al-Amin street in Damascus to sell sugar to civilians through the so-called “smart ration card.”

Although the regime government considers these cards as a good system and makes it easier for civilians to obtain subsidised goods easily and faster and reduces congestion and long queues, which has become a recurrent incident in all regime-held areas, it has been a new burden added to civilians because of the lack of coverage of all Syrian families with government support and the late arrival of domestic gas messages, prompting long queues at the Syrian Trading Corporation.

SOHR activists have monitored some food prices in Damascus. Here is the list of some prices of foodstuff:

• Ghee: 17,000 SYP per kilogram.

• Rice: 9,000 SYP per kilogram.

• Sugar: 7,000 SYP per kilogram.

• Tea: 40,000 SYP per kilogram.

• Egg: 18,000 SYP per carton.

• Tomatoes: 3,000 SYP per kilogram.

• Potatoes: 1,000 SYP per kilogram.

• Cucumber: 2,500 SYP per kilogram.

• Lamb: 45,000 SYP per kilogram.

• Veal: 35,000 SYP per kilogram.

Civilians in areas controlled by the regime complain about the low wages and salaries of workers and suffer the high prices of most basic essentials and the lack of fuel amid the neglect of the regime government and the failure to play its part to improve living conditions.