Communications: The Battle in Distress – Remembering the Syrian Young Woman Darwish

Damascus, Xinhua News Agency, January 12 Newsletter: Battle in Trouble - Remembering the Syrian young woman Darwish

Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Jian Zheng Yihan

One working day after winter, Shamiram Darwish, a 25-year-old Syrian woman, was writing in her office in the capital Damascus. As a generation that grew up in the war, Darwish, who worked as a journalist and producer in the Syrian radio media "Sharm FM", witnessed the drastic changes in the situation in Syria.

"When I was an undergraduate, the war began. The situation quickly escalated and we had to leave home to go to a relative's house in another area. The constant war forced her to give up her high-cost medical profession when she wanted to become a doctor.

After the outbreak of war in Syria in 2011, journalism became a career choice for many young Syrians, and Darwish was one of them. The job is currently the main source of her family's income.

During the war, the Darwish family's house was destroyed and could no longer be lived, and the family moved to a rental house, and the rising rent in damascus made the cost even more strained. In 2020, her father died of COVID-19. The sisters now share the household costs, and Darwish's salary is mainly used to pay rent. Since most of her other family members work temporarily, her income is crucial to the family.

In fact, the difficulties Darwish faces are a microcosm of the current plight of many Syrians, and she is far from the most difficult one.

After years of war, the epidemic and the continuous superposition of external sanctions, the lives of ordinary people in Syria have become more and more difficult, and Darwish has felt deeply. "These sanctions affect every aspect of Syrian life, affecting electricity, gas and fuel supplies." "Everything is going up in price, and our daily lives are all messed up," she said. ”

Since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, the Syrian pound has continued to depreciate, and the rate of depreciation has accelerated significantly in the past two years. Taking the black market exchange rate of the US dollar against the Syrian pound as an example, in 2017, the exchange rate was about 1 to 500, fell to about 1:800 in the second half of 2019, and has now fallen to about 1:3500.

In the local market, a common chicken burrito with a seasonal vegetable platter has generally risen from around 1,000 su pounds in early 2020 to around 5,000 su pounds. The price increase of various types of food and daily necessities is different, compared with the beginning of 2020, the price has generally doubled, and most categories have increased by more than 3 times.

The US government began to impose sanctions on the Syrian government, enterprises and individuals before the Syrian conflict broke out in full swing, and after the outbreak of the conflict, it continued to impose sanctions. The EU also began sanctions against Syria in May 2011. Years of conflict and Western sanctions have hit Syria's economic and social development hard. At the end of 2019, the US Congress passed a bill to set up obstacles for foreign investors to invest in Syria and further strengthen the economic blockade against Syria.

Sanctions have almost cut off the source of foreign investment, coupled with the destruction of war and the impact of the epidemic, Syria's domestic production, trade and investment have been sluggish, foreign exchange is scarce, materials are scarce, oil and gas shortages have occurred many times, and the power supply is also seriously insufficient. In the winter, Darwish's friends and colleagues, like her, are worried about getting enough heating fuel.

In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, ICRC President Peter Morel said that due to the impact of protracted conflicts, large-scale displacement, external sanctions, and the covid-19 pandemic, most Syrians are facing the most severe humanitarian, economic and social conditions since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis.

Under the pressure of sanctions, young people with family responsibilities are facing a lack of job opportunities, and some have to choose to leave Syria to work. But for Darwish, leaving is not a viable option. She said: "My situation does not allow it, I have to take responsibility for my family. If I leave, my family won't be able to get the support they need. ”

For many young Syrians, Western sanctions have changed their lives. But for their own sake, for the sake of their families, they choose to continue to "fight" rather than give in.

Instability and economic deterioration have created a strong sense of insecurity in Darwish. "Only by 'fighting' can you support yourself and your family." Darwish told reporters while contacting the guests of the show. (End)