Yesterday the people were overjoyed with the stability of prices of fuel especially benzene for its prices decreased so that it became 500 SP a litter after it witnessed a high increase for unknown reasons where there were another hopes expecting lower prices till 300 SP a litter since Idlib had not been targeted by military fighters for nearly a month and Hama stable circumstances referring to predictions of economical activity in Idlib and its countryside.
Today and suddenly people woke up to find crazy prices of fuel with all its kinds where a litter of benzene costs almost 1000 SP or 800 SP in best circumstances in the countryside of Idlib.
So what is the reason and what to do?
Observers believe that the reasons of higher prices of fuel ,particularly speaking benzene, are due to the battles taking place in the countryside of Hama and battles reaching the outskirts of Zain-Alabideen mountain which dominate directly the national high way which means that fuel trucks will not be able to use this road fearing the intensive mutual shelling between rebels and regime forces who are defending the mount. This means the main road and the artery of life, trade and business between Idlib and Hama will be cut off.
Road being cut off has great effects on economical life of citizens in both provinces; employee are no longer able to travel to Hama to get their salaries, besides the economical activity because of this circumstances will stop, but the big problem is cutting off the fuel road which can completely change the routine of life in Idlib and the northern countryside of Hama.
The crazy prices of everything are basically related to fuel, the running of generators on which the whole northern district counts is threatened to be of less hours and many generators may get forced to stop in case the cut off of the road last more.
Trade, public transportations and Taxis have stopped in Idlib city almost completely cause fuel expensiveness directly raise taxi tile the thing forced citizen to consider before taking taxi or he/she will be forced to walk whatever the distance is despite the heat and the continual fear of air raids ; here the citizen because of fuel costliness will dispense with Taxi walking on his/her feet.
Considering water, which becomes big obsession to families in Idlib city, “Hana” living near Alsaa square is really thinking about changing her rented apartment for in addition to high rent of houses there are continual fear of warplanes especially she is living in the forth floor which increase the rent of everything.. for real the cost of everything increases .. today she did find water in her reservoir on the roof where she got shocked with the tile of pumping water into her reservoir is related to the floor and not the quantity; 5 barrels becomes cost 2500 SP, her neighbor in the first floor paid 1200 SP.
Vegetables and fruits are another issue for watering the crops is related to diesel; transportation and workers tiles and payments, etc.. have increased the price of beaches from 220 SP a kilo to 400, grapes from 240 SP a kilo to 400. The market of vegetables is almost empty of customers and salesmen; there is few amounts of vegetables in boxes where flies have settled on for hours for there is no hands driving them away.
It is a painful reality of life in Idlib city due to air raids by both Russian and regime military fighters, the costliness of everything because of fuel high prices with fears of being completely missing where night darkness becomes equal to regime hatred on city who refused to yield and kneel down.
By Alaa Alabdellah
Translated by Sabah Najem
#Syrian_Press_Center
