Economic crises | Medhat Basha market in Damascus almost free of customers amid skyrocketing prices

The dire living conditions from which civilians have suffered for years have worsened and badly affected the markets in the capital, Damascus.

SOHR activists have toured in Medhat Basha market in the capital, Damascus, reporting the marked and continuous cutting back of customers and almost complete decline in buying and selling movement, owing to the severe collapse of the Syrian pound against the United States dollar and the fuel outages that paralysed the economy in this market and most of the capital’s markets in light of low wages and salaries, lack of most basic essentials and weak purchasing power of civilians.

Clothing prices have doubled, coinciding with winter and the need for civilians to buy winter clothes, prompting many people to purchase used clothes.

The prices of meat and other foodstuff have also risen significantly, the providing for the family has become a nightmare to civilians, ignoring other goods and essentials that have become a dream and difficult to obtain.

Shi’a visitors have occasionally contributed to reviving markets of the capital, Damascus, owing to that the visitors are non-Syrians as most Syrians are helpless and mired in dire living conditions in light of a deteriorating economic crisis over the years.

The fuel crisis has caused a recession in buying some goods and shortages in others, due to a lack of import and export movement, and a shortage of bread.

The Syrian civilians in the Syrian provinces under the control of the regime forces are struggling to meet and obtain the most basic essentials of daily life, amid the neglect of the regime and its indifference to the dire living conditions that burdened the civilians.

The monthly salary of a government employee, which is 25 USD, is very low compared to the daily essentials and does not stand for two days because of inflation in prices and the severe punishment imposed by the regime on anyone found in his possession of other currencies as it causes economic harm.

The plummet of the Syrian pound against the dollar exchange rate led to inflation of food and other goods prices.

Offering shops for investment is caused by the low revenues, reduced demand, a difficult business environment and high rental prices.