Exploiting the curfew and a monopoly on merchandise … Al-Shaddadi merchants in the time of Coronavirus

Exploitation of merchants and high food prices, suffering suffered by the citizen in Al-Shaddadi town since the implementation of the decision to curfew in the regions of northern and eastern Syria to prevent the spread of Coronavirus
Aso newsletter lens monitored the suffering of the people in the following report.

“Yasmin Mohamed,” one of the residents of Al-Shaddadi town, stressed the difference in food prices between the commercial stores to exploit the curfew period, justifying the raising of prices by the difficulty of goods reaching them during the curfew, and the dollar’s price difference.

Abu Ahmad, the owner of a grocery store in Al-Shaddadi, said that the prices of the materials are determined by the supply and not by the merchant, justifying the raising of the prices until the supply gives prices for the materials less than the price of buying goods from the wholesaler.

“Abu Ahmed” added that the supply should monitor the wholesale cars before monitoring the store owners’ prices.

In response to the complaints of the families, Khaled Al-Obaid, Director of the Joint Presidency of Al-Shaddadi Supply Division stated that they have a specific bulletin for food prices, which is determined by the General Administration of Supply and this bulletin depends on a study committee of foodstuff merchants from Manbij, Al-Hasakeh, Qamishlo / Al-Qamishli and a vegetable studies committee in Al-Hal markets. In the same regions, there are members of the Supply Division in this committee.

Noting that the price bulletin is determined by traders on the Study Group.

He also stressed in special statements to Aso, that in the absence of a price bulletin, they would give the price according to its cost by increasing (50) SP per kilo, (10) SP over the transportation distances after 60 km.

He also explained that the reason for the high prices of vegetables in Al-Shaddadi is due to the closing of the road between the self-administration and the Syrian government because the majority of vegetables are coming from coastal areas, and prices will drop in the near future as local vegetables descend in Al-Jazeera region.