The energy crisis gripping Syria is taking its toll on the already suffering Syrians: millions are in the dark, and cannot afford heating.
Over the past few weeks, Syrians have seen an increase in power outages across the country, with some areas experiencing more than 10 straight hours without power this week for a few hours of power, especially in rural areas, while large cities such as Damascus fared better with around 5 hours of continuous outage, some days up to 8 hours. This means that even the most prepared Syrians, who have solar energy systems installed, cannot cope with the long hours, especially as the daylight hours shorten.
This crisis coincides with the first wave of cold weather in Syria this autumn, with falling temperatures and showers across Syria, with the coldest days of winter still ahead. This was exacerbated as national power generation levels dropped to critical lows, suffering constant breakdowns and low fuel levels.
This crisis is added to the lack of fuel in several districts, which has resulted in long queues at stations, but the problem of low fuel quality still continues and affects thousands of cars in Syria. Even worse, low-grade diesel fuel should not be used for heating as it emits highly toxic gases, very harmful to children and the sick, with people reporting difficulty breathing and eye and respiratory irritation.
The real tragedy, however, lies in the millions who cannot afford heating, as its prices remain at a record high, with 20 liters (the average tank size) costing 3,600 SYP (360,000 old SYP) which is about 30% of the average monthly salary in Syria. Which makes it unsustainable for millions because 20 liters only lasts 5 days, 7 days on rationing.