Reporting by Omar la-Sheikh Mohamed; Translation by Rana Abdul
(Eqtsad)- After a month of it being banned, products and basic staples have returned to entering Daraa’s western countryside which is under control of Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, an Islamic State-linked group, after the rebel parties allowed the entry under the insistence of citizens, local notables, and active parties in the province.
Mohammad al-Mouthib, the deputy head of the free Deraa provincial council in the Syrian interim government, indicated in a press release exclusive to Eqtsad that, “the decision was taken at the level of the province to the effect that safe passages for civilians will be opened, and through these food products, medicine, cooking gas, flour, bread and all other essential necessities will be brought into Daraa’s western countryside, and especially to the civilian areas under Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade control.”
Al-Mouthnib highlighted that, “the decision to open the safe passage came through a meeting that included people from Hawran, the active revolutionary actors on the ground, the Hawran house of justice, provincial council, and other local councils, where it was agreed upon by everyone present on the necessity of opening safe passages to taken basic products into the western area under the supervision of the free province council.” He indicated that the deputy head of the council was commissioned this task, and that the passage to bring in products was actually opened on May 31 2016, in addition to the entry of goods, some injured and ill civilians entered and exited the western countryside.
Al-Mouthnib indicated that, “after the last meeting between the local councils and the representatives from Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, the brigade representatives confirmed that their members would not interfere in civilian matters, and they would not prevent the entry of any products to civilians,” indicating that fuel derivatives such as benzene and diesel fuel are banned from entering in large quantities, and from fuel derivatives only household gas is allowed.
Al-Mouthnib said, “regarding cars carrying vegetables from the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled areas, its burdens are unloaded at the checkpoints and it is transported with other cars to areas working within the areas under the control of the different armed factions subordinate to the southern front. The products are carried through these to the markets of Nawa and Tafas or further than that.”
From his side, Abed al-Razzaq, a wholesale trader in the western countryside confirmed that, “through the safe passages which were opened, essential goods were allowed to pass and in large quantities,” indicating the availability of oils, wheat, ghee, canned goods, sugar, rice and other products, but their prices are noticeably high in comparison with their equivalent in areas under armed factions’ control or the regime controlled areas.
He attributed the rise in prices to the lack of availability of fuel derivatives and the high fees paid to move products to Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled areas, indicating that the price of one liter of diesel in areas of ash Shajarah, al-Nafaa, Ain Thakar, and Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled areas is around 800 Syrian Pound, where its price of better diesel in other areas is not more than 200 SP. Benzene reached 15000 SP where its price in other areas is 350 SP.
He indicated that the price of a canister of gas is around 6 thousand SP, whereas in Tasil that is only tens of kilometers away from Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled areas the price is around 4800 SP.
Rnef, a food products trader said, “the prices in brigade controlled areas is higher than its equivalents in other areas by 100 percentiles,” indicating that a crate of eggs reach 1350 SP in ash Shajarah, 1 kilogram of sugar reach 550 SP, 1 liter of cooking oil 850 SP, and flour 250 SP, “whereas their prices in other areas is a lot less from what they are here.”
Assi a vegetable salesman confirmed that “the price of locally produced vegetables is very good and suitable, where the price of 1 kilo of tomatoes is 100 SP, cucumber 175 SP, okra is 250 SP, green beans 125 SP, and watermelon 150 SP, where the price of a kilo of pineapple reach 250 SP,” indicating the large improvement that has happened to the price of some of the agricultural produce as a result of opening the markets for it to be distributed outside the area of production.
Local witnesses from the people in the western area, in Eqtsad’s observation, expressed great thanks for this humanitarian initiative related to opening safe passages for the entry of food products, confirming that even with the rise in prices, the availability of products means they have been saved the trouble of traveling to other areas to bring the products, as well as limiting from their exposure to the danger of getting caught in between fighting factions in areas of conflict.
Ahmad, a farmer, said “now we have started, despite the difficult circumstances that we have lived for over a month, to feel the pleasure of living, everything is available, and now we are at the start of Ramadan, thank Allah for every blessing.”
It is necessary to indicate that the western areas of Daraa province, especially the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled area had witnessed the closure of all routes for over a month. The closures happened in tandem with the battles and skirmishes ongoing there between Free Syrian Army factions and al-Nusra Front from one side and Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade which is accused of giving allegiance to ISIS on another side. Some of the safe passages have been reopened since Tuesday May 31 to allow the passages of aid, humanitarian and medical products and some other essential products.
(Eqtsad)- After a month of it being banned, products and basic staples have returned to entering Daraa’s western countryside which is under control of Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, an Islamic State-linked group, after the rebel parties allowed the entry under the insistence of citizens, local notables, and active parties in the province.
Mohammad al-Mouthib, the deputy head of the free Deraa provincial council in the Syrian interim government, indicated in a press release exclusive to Eqtsad that, “the decision was taken at the level of the province to the effect that safe passages for civilians will be opened, and through these food products, medicine, cooking gas, flour, bread and all other essential necessities will be brought into Daraa’s western countryside, and especially to the civilian areas under Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade control.”
Al-Mouthnib highlighted that, “the decision to open the safe passage came through a meeting that included people from Hawran, the active revolutionary actors on the ground, the Hawran house of justice, provincial council, and other local councils, where it was agreed upon by everyone present on the necessity of opening safe passages to taken basic products into the western area under the supervision of the free province council.” He indicated that the deputy head of the council was commissioned this task, and that the passage to bring in products was actually opened on May 31 2016, in addition to the entry of goods, some injured and ill civilians entered and exited the western countryside.
Al-Mouthnib indicated that, “after the last meeting between the local councils and the representatives from Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, the brigade representatives confirmed that their members would not interfere in civilian matters, and they would not prevent the entry of any products to civilians,” indicating that fuel derivatives such as benzene and diesel fuel are banned from entering in large quantities, and from fuel derivatives only household gas is allowed.
Al-Mouthnib said, “regarding cars carrying vegetables from the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled areas, its burdens are unloaded at the checkpoints and it is transported with other cars to areas working within the areas under the control of the different armed factions subordinate to the southern front. The products are carried through these to the markets of Nawa and Tafas or further than that.”
From his side, Abed al-Razzaq, a wholesale trader in the western countryside confirmed that, “through the safe passages which were opened, essential goods were allowed to pass and in large quantities,” indicating the availability of oils, wheat, ghee, canned goods, sugar, rice and other products, but their prices are noticeably high in comparison with their equivalent in areas under armed factions’ control or the regime controlled areas.
He attributed the rise in prices to the lack of availability of fuel derivatives and the high fees paid to move products to Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled areas, indicating that the price of one liter of diesel in areas of ash Shajarah, al-Nafaa, Ain Thakar, and Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled areas is around 800 Syrian Pound, where its price of better diesel in other areas is not more than 200 SP. Benzene reached 15000 SP where its price in other areas is 350 SP.
He indicated that the price of a canister of gas is around 6 thousand SP, whereas in Tasil that is only tens of kilometers away from Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled areas the price is around 4800 SP.
Rnef, a food products trader said, “the prices in brigade controlled areas is higher than its equivalents in other areas by 100 percentiles,” indicating that a crate of eggs reach 1350 SP in ash Shajarah, 1 kilogram of sugar reach 550 SP, 1 liter of cooking oil 850 SP, and flour 250 SP, “whereas their prices in other areas is a lot less from what they are here.”
Assi a vegetable salesman confirmed that “the price of locally produced vegetables is very good and suitable, where the price of 1 kilo of tomatoes is 100 SP, cucumber 175 SP, okra is 250 SP, green beans 125 SP, and watermelon 150 SP, where the price of a kilo of pineapple reach 250 SP,” indicating the large improvement that has happened to the price of some of the agricultural produce as a result of opening the markets for it to be distributed outside the area of production.
Local witnesses from the people in the western area, in Eqtsad’s observation, expressed great thanks for this humanitarian initiative related to opening safe passages for the entry of food products, confirming that even with the rise in prices, the availability of products means they have been saved the trouble of traveling to other areas to bring the products, as well as limiting from their exposure to the danger of getting caught in between fighting factions in areas of conflict.
Ahmad, a farmer, said “now we have started, despite the difficult circumstances that we have lived for over a month, to feel the pleasure of living, everything is available, and now we are at the start of Ramadan, thank Allah for every blessing.”
It is necessary to indicate that the western areas of Daraa province, especially the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade controlled area had witnessed the closure of all routes for over a month. The closures happened in tandem with the battles and skirmishes ongoing there between Free Syrian Army factions and al-Nusra Front from one side and Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade which is accused of giving allegiance to ISIS on another side. Some of the safe passages have been reopened since Tuesday May 31 to allow the passages of aid, humanitarian and medical products and some other essential products.
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