(Zaman Al Wasl)- Latakia city is witnessing a choking crisis due to the scarcity of the petrol as it is only present in specific gas stations and for a limited of hours daily whereas officials and military personal obtain their need immediately and the product is leaked to be sold for exorbitant prices on the black market.
The scarcity of the product and the long duration of waiting before petrol stations has led to many questions, as well as being a cause of mockery, and criticism for the local and regime authority.
-3 Kilometer Queue-
The vehicle queue extends before the petrol station in al-Ziraat project, al-Sheikh Dhahir, the Latakia-Damascus international road, and al-Shatt al-Azrak, for many kilometers as people wait to get fuel, and the waiting extends in most cases for many hours’ day and night.
-Middlemen and Jumping the Queue-
A driver can ensure his daily need of fuel immediately if he is able to deal with middlemen who charge between 3000 and 5000 Syrian Pound (SP) based on the need required.
The lawyer Mohammad A. said, “I do not go to the gas station, I call one of the middleman and hand him the car, and he returns it filled with petrol. I pay him 3 thousand SP for that service.”
Officials’ cars, black cars, SUVs, and cars driven by military personal jump the queue without anyone objecting to their actions. They fill their car tanks with fuel as well as a number of barrels based on their claim they are headed to the fronts in Latakia’s countryside.
-The Protected Black Market-
The sale of benzene product is dispersed in Latakia’s pro-regime neighborhoods such as al-Daatour, Bsnada, and Bouka neighborhoods where the business is big and public. The merchants who belong to the security forces of the National Defense militia or are the relatives of members make profits from selling a single barrel for one thousand SP more than the official price.
They obtain the benzene product on a daily basis in an orderly manner via the drivers of governmental and military vehicles, and they bring the products in barrels or by emptying out their car tanks according Abu Hasan Kousa who sells petrol in Bsnada neighborhood. He added, “I practice my trade with the knowledge of the security forces and my son fights in Jabal al-Turkoman and send his friends to me for me to buy from them.”
The drivers say there is no lack of fuel, and the aim from causing the crisis is to take advantage of citizens with an agreement between authorities and the petrol station owners who sell a limited part of their quota and sell the larger amount covertly.
Joke of Pain
Drivers rely on irony and jokes to overcome their suffering. The driver Sakr Mohammad says, “I have no work on Friday so I thought to have fun with my friends the drivers in front of the petrol station.” He adds, “Allah have mercy on your days Halki, our tragedy with you was the electricity, and now we have added to it benzene with the new president of the government Khamis bek.”
Mohammad Sadi said on a social media page, “a popular wedding, extension and shoving of cars which have run out of petrol,” and Sahar Ali requested, “to record the long queue in Genus World Records,” while another person said, “the national meat in front of the patrol stations has increased.”
Al-Zaarour offers to sell an advanced position in the queue overlooking the coffee and cigarettes stand and garden, and the answer to his offer comes as “brother would you trade me your turn for a south western apartment overlooking the sea with excellent furnishing.” Another response comes, “would you trade me your turn for an office in the center of town?”
One of them says, “excavating for oil and extracting it is easier and faster than filling up with benzene, without paying a bribe in Latakia.”
Ignoring the situation and Absence of Censorship
There is a complete absence of authorities and a complete ignoring of the crisis except for the presence of a large number of security personal around petrol stations to arrest young men and not to discipline the queue or organize the process of obtaining fuel but to arrest young men and tow them away to their military service.
Siham Salem yelled, “where is the governor, the authorities? What are they doing? No importance is given to the human being, his time and dignity by them.” And adds, “if the Taksi driver waits for half his day to fill his car with fuel he will compensate for that by raising his fees and increasing citizens’ burdens, you are the reason for our crisis, our hunger, and the reason for the destruction of Syria, leave us.” She concluded with, “we want a solution… enough!”
The scarcity of the product and the long duration of waiting before petrol stations has led to many questions, as well as being a cause of mockery, and criticism for the local and regime authority.
-3 Kilometer Queue-
The vehicle queue extends before the petrol station in al-Ziraat project, al-Sheikh Dhahir, the Latakia-Damascus international road, and al-Shatt al-Azrak, for many kilometers as people wait to get fuel, and the waiting extends in most cases for many hours’ day and night.
-Middlemen and Jumping the Queue-
A driver can ensure his daily need of fuel immediately if he is able to deal with middlemen who charge between 3000 and 5000 Syrian Pound (SP) based on the need required.
The lawyer Mohammad A. said, “I do not go to the gas station, I call one of the middleman and hand him the car, and he returns it filled with petrol. I pay him 3 thousand SP for that service.”
Officials’ cars, black cars, SUVs, and cars driven by military personal jump the queue without anyone objecting to their actions. They fill their car tanks with fuel as well as a number of barrels based on their claim they are headed to the fronts in Latakia’s countryside.
-The Protected Black Market-
The sale of benzene product is dispersed in Latakia’s pro-regime neighborhoods such as al-Daatour, Bsnada, and Bouka neighborhoods where the business is big and public. The merchants who belong to the security forces of the National Defense militia or are the relatives of members make profits from selling a single barrel for one thousand SP more than the official price.
They obtain the benzene product on a daily basis in an orderly manner via the drivers of governmental and military vehicles, and they bring the products in barrels or by emptying out their car tanks according Abu Hasan Kousa who sells petrol in Bsnada neighborhood. He added, “I practice my trade with the knowledge of the security forces and my son fights in Jabal al-Turkoman and send his friends to me for me to buy from them.”
The drivers say there is no lack of fuel, and the aim from causing the crisis is to take advantage of citizens with an agreement between authorities and the petrol station owners who sell a limited part of their quota and sell the larger amount covertly.
Joke of Pain
Drivers rely on irony and jokes to overcome their suffering. The driver Sakr Mohammad says, “I have no work on Friday so I thought to have fun with my friends the drivers in front of the petrol station.” He adds, “Allah have mercy on your days Halki, our tragedy with you was the electricity, and now we have added to it benzene with the new president of the government Khamis bek.”
Mohammad Sadi said on a social media page, “a popular wedding, extension and shoving of cars which have run out of petrol,” and Sahar Ali requested, “to record the long queue in Genus World Records,” while another person said, “the national meat in front of the patrol stations has increased.”
Al-Zaarour offers to sell an advanced position in the queue overlooking the coffee and cigarettes stand and garden, and the answer to his offer comes as “brother would you trade me your turn for a south western apartment overlooking the sea with excellent furnishing.” Another response comes, “would you trade me your turn for an office in the center of town?”
One of them says, “excavating for oil and extracting it is easier and faster than filling up with benzene, without paying a bribe in Latakia.”
Ignoring the situation and Absence of Censorship
There is a complete absence of authorities and a complete ignoring of the crisis except for the presence of a large number of security personal around petrol stations to arrest young men and not to discipline the queue or organize the process of obtaining fuel but to arrest young men and tow them away to their military service.
Siham Salem yelled, “where is the governor, the authorities? What are they doing? No importance is given to the human being, his time and dignity by them.” And adds, “if the Taksi driver waits for half his day to fill his car with fuel he will compensate for that by raising his fees and increasing citizens’ burdens, you are the reason for our crisis, our hunger, and the reason for the destruction of Syria, leave us.” She concluded with, “we want a solution… enough!”
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