High Prices of Eid Sacrificial Animals Adds to Syrians’ Financial Burdens in Qamishli
(AWP) - Livestock markets in the city of Qamishli, northeastern Syria, are witnessing a decline in trade due to the notable hike in the costs of Eid al-Adha sacrificial animals.
Financially capable Muslims traditionally buy sacrificial animals or meat during Eid al-Adha to share with family and feed the poor.
This practice known as “Qurbani” commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail, according to the Muslim faith. However, the costs are proving prohibitive to most people this year.
Syrian livestock trader Abu Rasheed said, “There is no buying and selling activity due to the high prices of livestock which have reached approximately 350 US dollars. People lack purchasing power, especially since Eid will fall before employees receive their salaries, not to mention the high prices of sacrificial animals.”
His comments were echoed by Hameed al-Jassim, another trader who said, “We’ve noticed that no one can afford sacrificial animals due to the high prices, as a single sacrificial animal costs up to 4 million Syrian pounds. The current season has seen a weak demand, and there are high costs borne by livestock breeders preventing them from selling sacrificial animals at lower prices.”
In addition to increasing sheep and cattle prices, Qamishli residents are bemoaning the expensive costs of Eid al-Adha sweets and desserts, which range from 35,000 to 120,000 Syrian pounds.
Qamishli resident Roqaya Mahmoud, said, “We came to the market to buy Eid al-Adha supplies.
The prices are high, but we have obligations to buy these items. If we compare the local currency to the US dollar, very few people can afford Eid goods – it is certain that most of the people here cannot.”
Talal Abdul Rahman, a clothing trader in Qamishli, said that “the reason for the price hikes is that we buy materials in US dollars and sell them at prices equivalent to the local Syrian currency.”
Abdul Rahman added, “There is also a blockade on the area at the crossings, in addition to traders controlling the prices of goods outside Qamishli, and fluctuation in the price of the dollar, which has led to a significant increase in prices.”
The exchange rate of the Syrian pound against the US dollar in the markets of the eastern Syrian regions, especially the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli, recently fell to levels below the threshold of 15,000 pounds per dollar.