Syrians on Monday held demonstrations in various parts of the country for the second consecutive day over the government’s decision to increase fuel prices due to the Middle East war.
“We want them to bring fuel prices back to their previous level. Winter is coming, how are the poor going to live and keep warm?” said taxi driver Fateh Hamsho, 67. The UN said 90 percent of Syrians lived below the poverty line by the end of 2024, with the minimum wage in the country standing at around 12,560 pounds .
Syrian authorities on Sunday announced a hike on fuel prices amid global surges due to the Middle East war, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and quickly engulfed other countries in the region.
Other protests took place in Hasakeh in the northeast, in Atarib and Azaz in the north and in Khan Shaykhun in the west, according to AFP correspondents.
Speaking to state television, Abdul Hamid Salat, head of the energy ministry’s media department, said on Sunday that the price hikes were “temporary” and linked to global markets and the Iran war. He said Syria currently relies heavily on imports to meet its fuel needs, making these products more costly as prices rise on global markets. The Syrian parliament on Thursday will hold a hearing for Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir to explain the reasons behind the hike.
