Syria gas price-rise heightens war-torn country's food crisis

The country's 20% hike in domestic gasoline prices will push thousands more people even deeper into food poverty

On 4 October, the Syrian government, embroiled in a bitter, two-and-a-half year civil war against rebels, raised domestic gasoline prices from $0.58 per litre (/l) to $0.72/l. Average US gasoline prices were around $0.68/l ($3.40 per gallon) in September. The increase will push up domestic food prices as the cost of transporting basic supplies, such as wheat, will soar by around 17%, Imad al-Assil, deputy minister of internal trade and consumer protection said. Higher gasoline prices will also raise heating costs for households which use gasoline-powered generators to cope with frequent power outages. As the civil war, which broke out in April 2011, has become entrenched, the availability of