Syrian-Kurdish led administration raises sugar prices: SOHR

“The price of one kilogram of sugar was formerly 2,200 Syrian liras.”

Kurdistan 24 2022/01/19 15:43

Logo of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Photo: Wikipedia).

Syria AANES northeast Syria Faysh Khabur border crossing

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) –The directorate of supply and consumer protection of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has issued a decision to raise the price of sugar in northeast Syria, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.

“According to public interest requirements and the keenness on delivering sugar to the consumer, the price has been determined by the directorate of Supply and consumer protection as follows: 1 kg: 2,850 SYL (Syrian Lira) (approximately $1.13), 10 kg: 28,500 SYL ($11.34), 50 kg: 142,000 SYL (approximately $56),” read the decision by the AANES.

SOHR said it “is worth noting that the price of one kilogram of sugar was formerly 2,200 Syrian liras (approximately $0.87).”

SOHR said the decision came amidst increasing high prices of consumer goods and the closure of the Faysh Khabur-Semalka border crossing. The closure of the border has also led to a lack of sugar in the Kurdish town of Kobani.

According to a press release by EU aid organization ECHO, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) closed the Faysh Khabur-Semalka border crossing in December following tensions there.

“The closure of Semalka crossing border with the Kurdistan region of Iraq has contributed greatly to deteriorating living conditions that has worsened further across areas of Autonomous Administration-held areas in northern and eastern Syria,” SOHR said.

“The closure has had negative repercussions in all aspects of life prompting food, health, medical and industrial shortage.”

Last May, the PYD-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) overturned an increase in the prices of automobile fuel, petrol, and cooking gas after widespread protests erupted against the decision in multiple cities.

Civilians in northeast Syria have recently shown increased dissatisfaction with the lack of quality bread available.

Arab-majority areas such as Manbij, Shaddadi, Raqqa, Deir al-Zor, have previously held protests against deteriorating living conditions or military conscription into SDF-linked forces, as have some Kurdish towns.