Syrians in Hasakah Complain About Rising Prices Beyond Their Purchasing Power
(AWP) - Syrians in Hasakah, north of the country, are witnessing a wave of high prices that exceed their purchasing power due to traders linking the increase in US dollar rates with the goods they are selling.
Hasakah residents stress that the current increase is not confined to imported goods but also includes local products.
Walid al-Jassem, a resident of Hasakah, says, "Food items have now been linked to the [US] dollar; even some types of vegetables are linked to the dollar, and this has a severe impact on the standard of living. We receive our wages in Syrian currency, and we buy in dollars, so this greatly affects our livelihoods."
According to Hasakah countryside resident, Khalifa Hamada, "Prices, in general, are high because of traders and markets. Today, a kilo of potatoes costs 5000 [Syrian] liras, and there are people who cannot make ends meet."
He adds, "There are families who can barely afford to buy bread. Prices are high for tomatoes and cucumbers. The poor cannot afford them or anything else."
According to store owner, Habib Muslim, "The rise in prices of goods is caused by the increase in the [US] dollar. Goods are available, but there is manipulation and monopolisation by the traders. Sometimes we witness a decline in prices and sometimes they rise. There is indeed an increase in prices."