SOHR exclusive | Lack of infant formula and high prices trigger public discontent in regime-controlled areas

Regime-controlled areas have experienced considerable public discontent because of the prohibitively high prices of basic products and lack of others, along with the ongoing freefall of the Syrian currency and low salaries and wages. In this context, SOHR sources have reported acute shortage of infant formula, as it is not available in most of pharmacies, and its price, if found, has reached to unprecedented level. According to SOHR sources, regime authorities have set the price of a pack of infant formula “Nan” at 18,000 SYP and “Kikos” at 15,000 SYP.

 

At a time when only a few packs of infant formula are available on markets, the price of a pack has reached 50,000 SYP; such prices are unaffordable by the many.

 

The shortage and high price of infant formula triggered a state of public discontent on social media, where activists and social media users have called for securing basic products and deceasing their prices to a level affordable by the region’s residents.

 

On the other hand, many mothers started to search for alternative ways for feeding their babies, where many have found themselves forced to rely on cow milk which poses a great threat to the safety of babies aged under ten months.

 

Residents in regime-controlled areas are suffering from chronic crises, including, dreadful living conditions, stifling fuel crisis and soaring prices, amid inaction by authorities which have failed so far to reach workable solutions for these crises.