Crisis Worsens in Aleppo with Food, Fuel Blockade

ALEPPO, Syria–The situation in Aleppo has grown increasingly tense over the past few weeks, as people struggle to secure even the most basic necessities for survival. Despite the challenges, however, the historic Armenian community of Aleppo continues to endure.

Yerkir Media’s on-the-ground sources report that Aleppo, long considered the economic capital of Syria, is effectively under a food and fuel blockade since the recent closure of the main transportation route in and out of the city. The closure has effectively cut off Aleppo from all surrounding Syrian provinces.

The blockade has made food, fuel, and medicine difficult to secure and, and when available, cost prohibitive. Yerkir Media’s correspondent reports that flour is the scarcest food commodity, with bakeries in Armenian neighborhoods all but completely closed.

Fuel is almost impossible to secure, and when found, priced at 10 times the regular cost. As a result, traffic within the city has significantly decreased.

Aleppo is also facing a crisis in medical care, as many medical personnel, particularly specialists, have left the country. Emergency assistance efforts continue under extremely difficult circumstances, particularly due to the lack of financial resources.

Sources also report that the local currency has been devalued to dangerous levels.

Yerkir Media’s Armenian language print and video coverage of the Aleppo crisis is available by visiting www.yerkirmedia.am/?act=news&lan=hy&id=15059.