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Activists Warn of Bread Crisis in Government-held Areas

Long queues form outside bakeries in the capital Damascus after authorities issue order to reduce bread production in regime-held areas
Activists Warn of Bread Crisis in Government-held Areas

Activists and experts warn of an imminent bread crisis in governmental-held areas fueled by the Syrian regime's decision to cut production capacity and working hours.

The minister for internal trade and consumer protection has forwarded an order to the Committee of Auxiliary Bakeries demanding them to reduce the production capacity of all bakeries in all provinces to 10.6 kilotons and to work only one shift a day.

Nidal al-Zobi, head of the Committee, detailed that the production capacity for each bakery ranged from between 13-14 tons, but after the working hours dropped from 22 hours to 16 hours, production has changed and varied among bakeries.

The pro-regime "Damascus Now" Facebook page reported late last week that people were forced to wait for more than two hours to buy bread.

It is estimated that 62 auxiliary bakeries currently operate throughout all cities. Around 50 auxiliary bakeries were forced out of service due to the war.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.

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