Published : 27-10-2021
Displaced Palestinian families sheltered in Khan Dannun refugee camp, in Rif Dimashq, expressed fear that they won’t be able to cook their food or keep the cold out of their homes due to exorbitant prices of fuel, as a freezing winter season is about to unlock its gates.
The refugees have launched into a tirade against the malpractices of Syria’s burgeoning black oil market, fuel shortages, and—most of all—the exorbitant prices of wood and fuel charged by corrupt officials and traders.
The price of a liter of fuel has been raised in the black market to over 4,000 Syrian pounds, in a country where a civil servant receives 80,000 in the best of cases.
Families barely receive 100 liters of fuel through the smart card, which has become essential in the Syrian government-held areas. With this card, a family can obtain their small but vital allocations of heating oil, gas, bread, sugar, rice, and other goods. In early 2019, the Syrian government began the smart card system, which allegedly aimed to stop monopolization of aid and provide support to those in need.
At the same time, desperate for warmth, displaced Palestinian and Syrian families taking refuge in under-equipped camps and substandard facilities have been burning their clothes and plastic materials to stave off winter cold after they failed to afford firewood and fuel supplies.
This has resulted in heavy smokes engulfing camps from all corners and engendering civilians’, particularly children’s, health condition. Scores of children have sustained costochondritis (chest inflammation) and bronchitis due to heavy smoke inhalation.
Displaced Palestinian families sheltered in Khan Dannun refugee camp, in Rif Dimashq, expressed fear that they won’t be able to cook their food or keep the cold out of their homes due to exorbitant prices of fuel, as a freezing winter season is about to unlock its gates.
The refugees have launched into a tirade against the malpractices of Syria’s burgeoning black oil market, fuel shortages, and—most of all—the exorbitant prices of wood and fuel charged by corrupt officials and traders.
The price of a liter of fuel has been raised in the black market to over 4,000 Syrian pounds, in a country where a civil servant receives 80,000 in the best of cases.
Families barely receive 100 liters of fuel through the smart card, which has become essential in the Syrian government-held areas. With this card, a family can obtain their small but vital allocations of heating oil, gas, bread, sugar, rice, and other goods. In early 2019, the Syrian government began the smart card system, which allegedly aimed to stop monopolization of aid and provide support to those in need.
At the same time, desperate for warmth, displaced Palestinian and Syrian families taking refuge in under-equipped camps and substandard facilities have been burning their clothes and plastic materials to stave off winter cold after they failed to afford firewood and fuel supplies.
This has resulted in heavy smokes engulfing camps from all corners and engendering civilians’, particularly children’s, health condition. Scores of children have sustained costochondritis (chest inflammation) and bronchitis due to heavy smoke inhalation.
