DAMASCUS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- In Damascus' historic Bab Srijeh market, the sales remain low as Syrians grapple with a lingering economic crisis.
"There are crowds, but no real buying and selling," said a local merchant, adding that most shoppers are merely asking about prices rather than making purchases.
Naama, a Damascus resident, echoed the sentiment, saying that incomes have failed to keep up with rising living costs.
"The prices are very high compared to our wages, and money is simply unavailable in the country," she said.
For many, the strain of the economic downturn is palpable. Ahmad Al-Hallaq, another shopper, warned that the situation could become unsustainable in a few months.
"People might endure four or five more months, but beyond that, it will be very difficult," he said. "We accept everything that has happened, but the economic situation is not good, and people are exhausted."
For many Syrians, they are faced with financial hardship. Stagnant wages and high unemployment are forcing families to cut back, prioritizing necessities over the once-customary luxury items associated with the season.
Syria has been mired in an economic crisis for over a decade, driven by war, sanctions and infrastructural decay.
After the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government, the situation remains dire.
Although some staple prices have fallen -- potatoes, for instance, dropped from 9,000 Syrian pounds (0.69 U.S. dollars) per kilogram to 4,000 -- many still struggle to afford them. Hyperinflation, currency depreciation and fuel shortages have exacerbated the crisis.
Despite some easing of international sanctions, Syria's economy remains crippled. Its GDP has shrunk by 84 percent since 2011, pushing nearly 90 percent of the population below the poverty line, according to UN estimates.
Energy production remains a major hurdle, with Syria generating just 1,500 megawatts of electricity, far short of the 7,000 megawatts needed for basic demand. Meanwhile, oil production, once a vital part of the economy, has dwindled to just 5 percent of the nation's needs due to the loss of key oil fields.
Syria's interim government has been lobbying for further sanctions relief, arguing that restrictive measures like the U.S. Caesar Act have hindered the country's economic recovery.
As Syria stands at an economic crossroads, the coming months will be critical. It is hoped that international engagement, policy changes and increased stability will ease the economic turmoil, but for now, financial hardship remains the harsh reality for ordinary Syrians, who continue to endure the daily struggles of an economy in distress. ■
