The government is “capable of luxuries” after failing to control the basics

Hashtag_Falak Al-Quwatli

The government team’s behavior is not appropriate for the situation. Despite the existence of basic crises that have exhausted the citizen such as bread and fuel, apart from the beginning of the school season associated with household supplies, and with the government’s apparent inability to improve conditions, it has issued decisions banning the import of some secondary materials, as if these materials had the upper hand by destroying The reality of the Syrian citizen.

After the apparent inability to find decisions that control the prices of the basic needs of the citizen and relieve his tired reality, the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade decided to issue a decision suspending the import of a list of materials consisting of more than 20 items for a period of six months, without explaining the reasons for the decision.

In the monitoring of “hashtag” during a tour of a market in the capital, Damascus, to survey the prices of products of some materials that were banned from being imported, it was found that the price of a kilo of nuts increased from 18,000 to 35,000 pounds, unsalted cashews 50,000 pounds, almonds 20 thousand; Raisins 5000 pounds, Ashlamish 7500 pounds.

While the majority of merchants refused to disclose or even sell cash counters, physical therapy devices and air conditioners.

The head of the “Roasters, Nuts and Coffee” Association, Omar Hammouda, had said earlier that stopping the import of some types of nuts would lead to traders monopolizing them and storing them in warehouses, thus increasing their local price.

Hammouda called on the Ministry of Economy to reconsider the recent decision to ban the import of walnuts and cashews, and not to extend it after the expiry of the import ban period.

He pointed out that nuts such as cashews are not only for entertainment and luxury, but also have medicinal uses. He revealed that there are difficulties in importing sunflower seeds, calling for facilities and opening licenses to import the required quantities and cover the need.

It is noteworthy that in October 2020, the Minister of Economy, Muhammad Samer Al-Khalil, said that Syria needs to import between 180,000 and 200,000 tons of wheat per month, at a cost of $400 million, according to Reuters news agency.