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Rising Diesel Prices Halt Dozens of Bakeries in Hasakah and Trigger Protests in Qamishli
Dozens of bakeries in Hasakah city, its countryside, and various parts of Syria’s Jazira region have suspended operations following an increase in the price of diesel fuel. Meanwhile, the city of Qamishli witnessed a protest against the rising cost of living and the impact of higher fuel prices on residents.
The shutdowns followed a decision issued Sunday by the Committee for Pricing Petroleum Products, which set the price of one liter of diesel at 17,500 Syrian pounds. The closures affected public and private bakeries in Hasakah, in addition to two bakeries in Tal Tamr, three in al-Hol, four in Tal Hamis, three in al-Shaddadi, and four in Tal Barak, according to the Hawar News Agency.
The decision sparked widespread concern among bakery owners and residents. Bakery owners said the new diesel price had pushed production costs to levels incompatible with the current price of a bundle of bread, set at 4,000 Syrian pounds, threatening the bakeries’ ability to continue operating.
The closures coincided with an acute shortage of diesel in several cities across the Jazira region, particularly Qamishli, where the fuel was reportedly almost entirely unavailable. Some gas stations resorted to rationing sales, limiting purchases to no more than 10 liters per vehicle.
The rising operating costs and fuel shortages prompted several bakery owners to temporarily suspend work, pending the introduction of a new bread price or the adoption of solutions that take production costs into account while ensuring the continued supply of bread at affordable prices. The broad scope of the shutdowns reflects the mounting pressure on the bakery sector amid continued increases in fuel prices.
In a related development, Qamishli witnessed a protest on Monday afternoon attended by dozens of residents, who rejected the rising cost of living and the effects of higher fuel prices on the prices of bread, fuel, goods, and services.
Participants held banners calling for a resolution to the fuel and electricity crises and for improved economic conditions. They also condemned the decline in support services for diesel supplies and the increase in fuel prices, warning that the continuation of the crisis could further burden residents and trigger a new wave of price increases.
