Markets in Idlib province are witnessing a noticeable increase in the prices of heating supplies compared to last year, which has increased the living burdens on residents amid declining purchasing power. They are forced to seek cheaper alternatives to ensure warmth, coinciding with growing difficulties in covering basic needs such as food and education.
In Idlib markets, heaters of various types are lined up alongside piles of firewood, husks, and diesel tanks, with limited interest in purchasing as rising prices narrow families' options before the cold intensifies.
Rising Prices of Heaters and Boori
Mohammed Fajina, a heater factory owner, told SANA on Saturday that demand remains unclear, as residents have not yet finalized their choices. He explained that prices of heaters and Boori (metal heating tubes) have risen due to traders' monopoly on raw iron and increased production costs.
Fajina noted that the price of Boori rose from 100 Syrian pounds last year to 134 pounds, accounting for transportation costs from Sheikh Najjar in Aleppo, as well as electricity and diesel consumption in the furnaces.
Firewood Prices and Licensing Fees Double
For his part, Iyad Abdul Qader Hajj Hassan, owner of a firewood trading center, clarified that the material is very scarce and its prices have doubled. He stated that a ton of firewood, which was sold for 19,000 Syrian pounds last year, now sees its cheapest type sold for 42,600 pounds, consisting of green, non-dry wood that does not burn well.
Hajj Hassan attributed the price increase to a rise in licensing fees for the firewood center from 355 Syrian pounds to 28,400 pounds, in addition to higher prices for diesel and gasoline, and firewood transportation costs, which amount to 7,100 pounds per vehicle.
Decline in Citizens' Purchasing Power
Citizen Abdul Moneim Mahmoud Hussein pointed out the worsening plight of his family due to rising firewood prices and declining quality. The price of a liter of diesel reached 175 pounds, exceeding his purchasing power. He explained that securing firewood and husks for heating requires between 13,600 and 128,000 pounds, while the family income barely covers bread and school expenses, amid difficulty covering education, food, and water costs.
Hussein stated that the price of a diesel heater reached 21,300 pounds, and a 90-centimeter heater Boori costs around 288 pounds. He warned that his family is forced to use nylon, bags, paper, and waste for heating, and called for providing materials at subsidized prices.
In the same context, citizen Ghayath Salem Masri noted that buying a ton of ordinary firewood for 42,600 Syrian pounds, or a wood heater for more than 27,000 pounds, is beyond his and many citizens' purchasing power. He pointed out that the price of a heater was 9,500 pounds last year, and he is currently refraining from installing a heater if prices remain unchanged.
Residents of Idlib, including displaced persons living in difficult conditions, face additional burdens due to rising heating costs, which compete with expenses for food, education, and daily needs. Amid limited purchasing power, some families are turning to rationing fuel consumption or seeking cheaper alternatives that may be unsafe, amid calls for relevant authorities to intervene to alleviate burdens and provide heating materials at subsidized prices.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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