Protests rage in Syria's Sweida province amid economic hardship

Damascus, Feb 11 (IANS) Mass protests have been raging for days in Syria's southern province of Sweida amid the dire economic situation.The tension in Sweida started escalating following a recent government decision to partially lift the subsidy off for those deemed as not in need of subsidised materials like gas, fuel, and such food items as rice and sugar.Videos of protesters blaming the government for the hardship have been circulated on social media as eyewitnesses told Xinhua that some of the roads in Sweida were cut off by protesters, Xinhua news agency reported.Despite the nearly 11-year-long conflict, the government in Syria has managed to continue providing citizens with subsidised food and fuel, as well as healthcare.However, due to the economic sanctions imposed by the US and its Western allies on Syria, the insufficient subsidy compelled the authorities to come up with a mechanism to determine who is the most in need.
--IANS int/khz/

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