Translation by Yusra Ahmed
(Eqtsad)- Hard procedures are forced over Yarmouk basin in the Western countryside of Daraa since March 2016 in regard to preventing any type of fuel and cigarettes from entering the area controlled by Brigade of Yarmouk Martyrs and Islamic al-Mothana Movement and Khalid Bin al-Walid Army formed of both mentioned formations with al-Mojahidin.
These procedure have encouraged smuggling cigarettes and fuel derivatives by children and women in particular as they have become responsible for supporting their families.
Ahmed, 11, from a village in Yarmouk basin told Eqtsad about smuggling fuel: “I go to the towns of Tasil and Saham controlled by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) when fighting calms down among Khalid Bin al-Walid army and FSA where I buy fuel as much as I can carry, about 10 litres and I carry them in a gallon or bottles of fizzy drinks and I sneak through the FSA’s barriers and I sell them in areas controlled by Khalid Bin al-Walid army in villages of Yarmouk basin.
Ahmad mentioned that he sometimes goes twice s day to buy fuel and his profits about SYP 300 per a litre, which make good income. He then hand the money to his father, who had his leg amputated after an injury and he cannot work.
Abullah, 12, Ahmed’s friend confirmed that he sometimes hide in cans of fizzy drinks and put them among other stuff and pass through barriers as children usually are not inspected.
Abdullah mentioned that he did not work in smuggling cigarettes because the inspection is very detailed and punishment is very hard. He explained that he started smuggling fuel and benzene because there was no adult in his family to work after his father’s disappearance when he was arrested a year ago at Khirbet Ghazaleh barrier when he was in his way to receive his salary from the Electricity company in Daraa.
Ghiath, 17, confirmed that the need is mother of invention, as they started filling Gas cylinders with benzene instead, as gas was the only allowed kind of fuel in the area, as one cylinder can carry 25 litres of benzene. He detailed that he earns SYP 400 per a litre, but he stopped doing that because members on barriers knew the trick and arrested many smugglers due to slanders.
Thuraya, 42, explained that the Sharea clothes and veil are very suitable for smuggling and covering objects especially fuel and benzene, as she used to smuggle may litres of benzene and many cigarette boxes where she put them around her waist.
She detailed that small bottles of fizzy drink are ideal for that task as each 3 bottles make a litre and she can carry 6 litres at least.
Thoraya mentioned that many militants on barriers know the trick, but they turn the blind eye because they know people’s needs.
She confirmed that barriers are very strict in smuggling cigarettes to Yarmouk basin, because of that they have recruited women to inspect women for that purpose.
Thoraya Mentioned that she earns about SYP3000 per a day, but that does not come easily because sometimes clashes take place among fighting formations causing stop in transportation which force women or men to stay few days in villages of Saham and Tasil till conditions calm down.
Abdul-Kader,34, mentioned that barriers completely do now allow fuel and cigarettes inside villages of Yarmouk basins, as they only allow an amount enough to enable to the vehicle to reach to the destination, while they throw the rest away, justifying that by fear of giving the fuel to fighters of Khalid Bin al-Walid Army to run their vehicles and military equipments.
(Eqtsad)- Hard procedures are forced over Yarmouk basin in the Western countryside of Daraa since March 2016 in regard to preventing any type of fuel and cigarettes from entering the area controlled by Brigade of Yarmouk Martyrs and Islamic al-Mothana Movement and Khalid Bin al-Walid Army formed of both mentioned formations with al-Mojahidin.
These procedure have encouraged smuggling cigarettes and fuel derivatives by children and women in particular as they have become responsible for supporting their families.
Ahmed, 11, from a village in Yarmouk basin told Eqtsad about smuggling fuel: “I go to the towns of Tasil and Saham controlled by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) when fighting calms down among Khalid Bin al-Walid army and FSA where I buy fuel as much as I can carry, about 10 litres and I carry them in a gallon or bottles of fizzy drinks and I sneak through the FSA’s barriers and I sell them in areas controlled by Khalid Bin al-Walid army in villages of Yarmouk basin.
Ahmad mentioned that he sometimes goes twice s day to buy fuel and his profits about SYP 300 per a litre, which make good income. He then hand the money to his father, who had his leg amputated after an injury and he cannot work.
Abullah, 12, Ahmed’s friend confirmed that he sometimes hide in cans of fizzy drinks and put them among other stuff and pass through barriers as children usually are not inspected.
Abdullah mentioned that he did not work in smuggling cigarettes because the inspection is very detailed and punishment is very hard. He explained that he started smuggling fuel and benzene because there was no adult in his family to work after his father’s disappearance when he was arrested a year ago at Khirbet Ghazaleh barrier when he was in his way to receive his salary from the Electricity company in Daraa.
Ghiath, 17, confirmed that the need is mother of invention, as they started filling Gas cylinders with benzene instead, as gas was the only allowed kind of fuel in the area, as one cylinder can carry 25 litres of benzene. He detailed that he earns SYP 400 per a litre, but he stopped doing that because members on barriers knew the trick and arrested many smugglers due to slanders.
Thuraya, 42, explained that the Sharea clothes and veil are very suitable for smuggling and covering objects especially fuel and benzene, as she used to smuggle may litres of benzene and many cigarette boxes where she put them around her waist.
She detailed that small bottles of fizzy drink are ideal for that task as each 3 bottles make a litre and she can carry 6 litres at least.
Thoraya mentioned that many militants on barriers know the trick, but they turn the blind eye because they know people’s needs.
She confirmed that barriers are very strict in smuggling cigarettes to Yarmouk basin, because of that they have recruited women to inspect women for that purpose.
Thoraya Mentioned that she earns about SYP3000 per a day, but that does not come easily because sometimes clashes take place among fighting formations causing stop in transportation which force women or men to stay few days in villages of Saham and Tasil till conditions calm down.
Abdul-Kader,34, mentioned that barriers completely do now allow fuel and cigarettes inside villages of Yarmouk basins, as they only allow an amount enough to enable to the vehicle to reach to the destination, while they throw the rest away, justifying that by fear of giving the fuel to fighters of Khalid Bin al-Walid Army to run their vehicles and military equipments.
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