(Eqtsad)- Goods and food have entered the ISIS-held Yarmouk Basin in the western countryside of Daraa after more than three months of severe blockade, local activists said.
The food entry followed a week of fierce clashes between Free Syrian Army and Jaish Khalid bin al-Walid, key ISIS unit in the border province southern Syria.
Local activists and witnesses confirmed that the army of Khalid bin al-Walid had started a massive attack on the strongholds of the Free Army in the towns of Hait, Sahem Golan, Taseel, Edwan, Sheikh Saad and Glenn, which enabled the army to extend its control over some of the strategic hills, after fierce battles resulted in heavy losses in lives and materiel.
The sources pointed out that residents of the Yarmouk Basin who suffer of hunger and lack of good for the last three months of blockade imposed on their villages which are considered the main strongholds of the Army of Khalid bin al-Walid, have managed to reach to other villages to obtain food supplies, and buy some available basic materials, ignoring the heavy clashes and the risk on their lives while moving.
the source pointed out that some wholesalers shops owners had been allowed to bring a limited amount of goods from towns of Taseel, Sahem Golan and Edwan and other areas, and sell them to people in villages of Yarmouk Basin, mentioning that goods kept arriving in the basin till Thursday morning.
Abo Wahib, 49, one of the Yarmouk Basin’s residents, mentioned that goods entered the area were very expensive compared to prices in the liberated areas, , and the vast majority of people cannot afford to buy them, moreover, he noted that severe shortage of many basic materials as no bread nor cooking gas were available until Thursday, while limited amount of wheat and flour and some oil were available in very little amount with extremely high prices over the ability of the majority of people to afford.
Abo Wahib detailed that the price of one kilogram of sugar reached to SYP 1,200, ordinary rice is a thousand Syrian pounds per kilogram, while good quality of rice is sold for 1,700 Syrian pounds, flour is sold for SYP. 750, oil for SYP. 1200 per kilogram, sweets 2,000, and a can of sardines 400, tea for 6,000, coffee for 6,000, bulgur 500, while the price of a kilo of wheat is SYP.
Abdul Khaliq, a 35 year old vegetable seller pointed out that he supplies fruits and vegetables to villages, but everything is available on too small amount. He pointed out that prices are relatively acceptable, as the price of a kilogram of tomatoes is SYP 350, onions SYP.450, cauliflower 250, spinach 350. For fruit, the price of one kilogram of apples reached 450 Syrian pounds, orange 300, banana 850 Syrian pounds.
He explained that some vegetables and fruits had entered the Yarmouk Basin area only once during the past week and were not seen again.
In regard to meat, the price of one kilogram of mutton reached to SYP. 4000, while the milk reached to SYP 175 per a kilo, Yogurt 250, strained yogurt 850, cheese is sold for SYP. 1,000 and the price of one egg reached SYP 150.
The fuel prices have soared as well and they are very few and not available most of the time. The price of a liter of benzene reached to SYP. 2500, diesel around SYP. 800, and a cooking gas container reached to SP. 25,000.
The Yarmouk basin area in the far Western countryside is witnessing for more than three years fierce fighting between the Free Army factions and the army of Khalid Bin al-Walid. Eruption and calming down of clashed are correlated to local and international changes. The situation had imposed a suffocating siege on the region leading to great difficulties if people’s lives and disturbed their normal life cycle completely. The main concern of people in the area had become how secure daily meal amid the absence of both resources and services added to inability to live in another place as most places are not better.
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