From Damascus markets – Reuters
The exchange rate of the Syrian pound reached 7800 against the US dollar
Dubai – Al Arabiya.net
Published in: May 13, 2023: 12:39 PM GST
Last updated: May 13, 2023: 01:46 PM GST
While the exchange value of the Syrian pound against the US dollar continues to collapse, the collapse of the living reality and the insane rise in prices continue amid a state of anger among citizens.
The Central Bank of Syria set the exchange rate of the Syrian pound at 7800 against one US dollar, and its exchange rate yesterday, Friday, in the capital, Damascus, reached 9025 purchases and 9125 sales, and in Aleppo it reached 9100 purchases and 9200 sales, while in the city of Hasaka, its exchange rate reached 9000 purchases. And 9,100 sold.
The prices of all commodities and basic materials in the country are affected by the collapse of the Syrian pound, as the markets of some Syrian governorates are witnessing a significant rise in prices, including the prices of food supplies, vegetables, fruits, medicines and fuel, in addition to internet, electricity and transportation services, which puts the Syrian citizen in front of a confrontation with the deteriorating living and material reality.
--No change in salaries
With all this collapse in the value of the Syrian pound, which exceeded the limit of 9,000 Syrian pounds, there is no new change in the salaries of employees and the wages of workers, as the salary of the Syrian employee, which barely exceeds 150,000 Syrian pounds, is not enough to meet the needs of his family for only two days, at the most.
In a tour of the prices of the most prominent foodstuffs and vegetables in the markets of the Syrian capital, Damascus, in Syrian pounds, they were as follows: a kilo of eggplant 1250 pounds, a kilo of potatoes 1700 pounds, a kilo of cucumbers 3100 pounds, a kilo of flowers 2200 pounds, a kilo of zucchini 3000 pounds, a kilo of beans 3000 pounds A kilo of peas is 2,800 Syrian pounds, a kilo of lemon is 3,400 pounds, a kilo of garlic is 5,600 pounds, and a kilo of onions is 1,700 pounds, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
From Damascus markets – Reuters
wave of angry responses
The continuous rise in prices and the collapse of the exchange value of the Syrian pound against the US dollar met with widespread dissatisfaction on the part of the citizens, as the prices received a wave of angry responses, stressing that the prices for several years were outside the purchasing power of the Syrian citizen, but they have greatly exacerbated during the past months and have become exaggerated to an extent. It is very large, warning of a real catastrophe if the living conditions continue as they are.
Some commented, saying: The prices set by the Ministry of “Consumer Protection” are never used in the markets, and the prices exceed what is determined by the ministry by a large percentage, so there is no strict control, and the domination of merchants and their monopoly of commodities and basic materials increases this suffocating crisis.
It is noteworthy that a report issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) stated in June 2022 that Syria is considered one of the 20 hotspots of hunger in the world.
