WEEKLY REPORT 4 – 10 December 2020 Key dynamics Unrest in the northeast ................................................................................................... 2 Turkish threats complicate fragile status quo in northeast ........... 2 Protest against Self-Administration, diminished fuel supply ....... 3 Winterization ..................................................................................................................... 4 South Damascus residents struggle to stay warm ............................. 4 Syrian pound ...................................................................................................................... 5 Syrian government devalues exchange rate ......................................... 5 Finance and fuel in the northwest .............................................................................. 6 Northwest communities prefer lira to pound ...................................... 6 New fuel companies start trading in Syria’s northwest ................... 7 Cover photo: Protests in Al Sheetat, Deir-ez-Zor governorate, Dec 2020. Source Orient News MERCY CORPS HUMANITARIAN ACCESS WEEKLY REPORT, 4 – 10 DECEMBER 2020 1 Unrest in the northeast Observers have debated the motivations behind the latest Russian demands. While one theory Continued Turkish threats suggests that Russia is using a recent escalation against Ain Issa complicate in hostilities between the Turkish-backed SNA fragile status quo in northeast and SDF to try and better cement government control in northeast Syria – potentially with a Tensions remain high along frontlines in view to getting the Self-Administration back northeast Syria following weeks of artillery around the negotiating table with Damascus in bombardments and clashes between the the future – the possibility remains that Russia is Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and genuinely concerned about a looming Turkish- the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). led offensive on Ain Issa and is trying to intervene further to avoid that happening. The situation has grown more complicated in recent days. Turkey struck Syrian government The SDF has reportedly rejected the Russian positions in the countryside north of Tal Tamer proposals as they stand. (Tal Tamer subdistrict), days after pro- government forces deployed troops to the town. The M4 frontline Ain Issa is a highly strategic town along the M4 Russia seeking to benefit from highway, where Russia has maintained a small escalations...or contain them? base since US withdrawals in 2019. Territorial According to media reports, Russia this week gains by Turkish-backed groups along the M4 requested that the SDF hand over control of Ain could impact military and civilian traffic on the Issa to the Syrian government, days after strategic roadway and hamper fuel transfers Russian military officers met with SDF from Self-Administration to government-held representatives on 2 December in Tabaqa (Al- areas. Malikeyyeh subdistrict) and proposed localized power-sharing agreements in urban areas of While international humanitarian agencies northeast Syria including Ain Issa and Al- (which make up the lion’s share of the local Hasakeh. response) use alternative routes other than the M4, the work of local NGOs would also be Russia reportedly proposed that the SDF accept affected by escalating bombardments and a situation in Ain Issa like that in Quamishli city, clashes, and any coming changes in the status where the Syrian government has long quo along the M4. maintained a so-called ‘security square’ (consisting of government agencies and security Earlier this week, HAT published a situation branches) and the SDF controls all territory report assessing the likelihood of a Turkish- around it. backed operation north of Ain Issa, which can be found here. MERCY CORPS HUMANITARIAN ACCESS WEEKLY REPORT, 4 – 10 DECEMBER 2020 2 Protests against Self- reportedly had sent the Self-Administration Administration in Deir-ez-Zor several requests for increased fuel allocations, and to distribute it to different sectors such as after diminished fuel supplies agriculture and services. A number of demonstrations broke out across The suspension in the distribution of fuel and eastern Deir-ez-Zor governorate as protestors diesel led to an increase in their prices on the demanded improvements in services, health and black market. fuel provision while denouncing a number of perceived corrupt Self-Administration policies. Deir-ez-Zor's diesel supply ranges from 10–15 Protests occurred across the towns of Eastern tanks per day, most of which is distributed for Jurdi (Thiban subdistrict), Kisreh, Himar Ali, and heating purposes, an amount that the Fuel Harmushiyeh (Kisreh subdistrict), Al Sheetat Committee considers to be insufficient to meet and Abu Hamam (Hajin subdistrict), where daily demands (which is estimated at 30–33 demonstrators blocked roads and burned tires. tanks per day). One reason for the decreased supply is thought to be the significant increase in Demands across the protests were uniform, smuggling of fuel from Self-Administration to where demonstrators, consisting of majority Syrian government-held areas. The Self- Arab population, denounced the work of local Administration had reportedly resumed cross- councils, accusing them of lack of basic service line trade of fuel to government-held areas after provision, corruption and clientelism. a 15 day suspension, possibly following Russian pressure to do so. Earlier last month, the Self-Administration- affiliated Deir-ez-Zor civil council had warned of Fuel shortages during the winter season are the possibility of local dissent if fuel and diesel likely to lead to poor living and humanitarian were not distributed to the local population. The conditions, particularly for families occupying Fuel Committee within the civil council informal living settlements, unfinished buildings Table 1: Fuel price increase Deir-ez-Zor, October - December 2020 Fuel type October 15 (SYP per December 8 (SYP per Percentage increase liter) liter) Fuel (Mazout) 150 - 180 450 150 - 200 % Petrol Type A 250 - 300 600 100 - 140 % Petrol Type B 300 - 350 800 130 - 165 % MERCY CORPS HUMANITARIAN ACCESS WEEKLY REPORT, 4 – 10 DECEMBER 2020 3 and IDP camps across the northeast. This is system, and now black market prices have further exacerbated as many may not be skyrocketed by 214% reaching 1,100 SYP equipped with winterization aid, winter clothing, ($1.52) per liter and 67% reaching 25,000 SYP blankets and other seasonal necessities. The ($9.29) per canister respectively since early recurrence of these protests as civilians across September (as shown in Figure 1), making them the governorate make identical calls for basic unaffordable for an already cash-strapped service provision and transparency in population. governance demonstrate a lack of trust in local governance, pointing to the likelihood of these Heating alternatives become protests continuing if local communities feel inaccessible or too expensive their demands are not being met. With diesel and gas largely unavailable, residents Winterization are also finding it difficult to procure alternative heating materials. The price of firewood has South Damascus residents increased by 157%, reaching 180,000 SYP ($67) struggling to stay warm as per tonne, again making it unaffordable for winter sets in citizens. Additionally, the use of electric heaters has increasingly become impractical due to South Damascus has been hard-hit by the fuel limited electricity supply – four hours per day – crisis and poor service provision, issues which and volatile currents which damage electric have been affecting most Syrian government- appliances. held areas. As winter sets in over the Syrian capital, local communities, including those in South Damascus residents resorting to South Damascus, are developing a number of unhealthy alternatives improvised measures to keep warm in a The unaffordability and/or unavailability of the reflection of the poor socio-economic above mentioned heating sources have forced conditions. residents to rely on more unorthodox heating On 2 December, local sources stated that South sources. Due to the high price of firewood, Damascus residents have faced difficulties residents have resorted to using old or finding adequate sources of heating for the destroyed wooden furniture, sometimes winter. Residents who previously used diesel including wooden chairs and tables taken from and, to a lesser extent, gas canisters have found classrooms in local schools. Old clothes and parts inadequate supply to meet their demands, as a of destroyed plastic tanks have also been used. result of the ongoing fuel crisis in government- Residents have gone as far as burning fertilizer, held areas. Both diesel and gas canisters have mixed with water and hay, highlighting their become more difficult to procure at the official desperation for heating during the cold winter price through the government’s smart card months. MERCY CORPS HUMANITARIAN ACCESS WEEKLY REPORT, 4 – 10 DECEMBER 2020 4 Figure 1: Black market prices of diesel and gas canisters in South Damascus These heating methods put residents at risk of Syrian pound developing respiratory illnesses due to the emissions emanating from them, which could Syrian government devalues create further medical problems among the local exchange rate for conscription community in the future. exemption payments Local sources have added that the Syrian On 1 December, the Syrian Central Bank issued government