Fuel Price Hikes Spark Protests Across Syria

The sharp rise in fuel prices has sparked the largest protests across Syria since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad two years ago. A wave of discontent and blockades of key roads, including the highway between Damascus and Aleppo, was triggered by the government’s decision on Saturday to raise the price of diesel by 40% and gasoline prices by more than a quarter.

The fuel price hike is placing an even greater burden on the population, 90% of whom, according to the UN, live below the poverty line. Protesters are also blocking oil tankers and, in addition to lower prices, are demanding the dismissal of the energy and economy ministers.

The government defends the price hikes as a temporary measure caused by rising global oil prices and the country’s dependence on imports. Syria relies primarily on Russian oil, whose supplies are under pressure due to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.

The situation has been further exacerbated by a three-month shutdown of Syria’s largest refinery, Baniyas, for maintenance. Since February, the price of oil in the country has more than doubled, which, according to local residents, immediately drove up the prices of food and basic services as well.

(Reuters, max)