- Title: Damascus residents look forward to Eid despite spiralling prices
- Date: 31st August 2017
- Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AUGUST 31, 2017) (REUTERS) SYRIA'S FLAGS AND BALLOONS IN MIDAN TRADITIONAL MARKET MARKET SELLING SWEETS VARIOUS OF SYRIAN SWEETS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN MAN, DIAA HAZEM, SAYING: "It is the first Eid when we are really happy because the worst of the crisis is behind us. So the prices are kind of expensive but we are happy with the current situation thanks to the Syrian army and the resistance. We thank everybody who made us happy in this moment." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LOCAL RESIDENT, ISSAM AL-TARRAS, SAYING: "Instead of buying sweets with pistachios, we buy cheaper kinds priced at only 1,000 liras per kilo. We have to cope with our situation." SWEETS BEING PREPARED AS OWNER OF SWEET SHOP, FARES HAIDAR, WATCHES ON SWEETS BEING PLACED IN BOX HAIDAR AND COLLEAGUE PREPARING SWEETS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF SWEETS SHOP, FARES HAIDAR, SAYING: "We made three kinds of sweets. We have the regular kind, high quality and very high quality. That is for the people with money and the regular sweets are for the poor people. We still help people because they are still our people. The only between the sweets is that there are fewer pistachios but we use the same butter in all." PEOPLE WORKING IN MARKET MARKET STREET BOY HANDING OVER MONEY MONEY BEING COUNTED VARIOUS OF BREAD BEING PREPARED VARIOUS OF MARKET DECORATIONS IN MARKET
- Embargoed: 14th September 2017 16:33
- Keywords: Eid Syria Damascus preparations civil war festival
- Location: DAMASCUS, SYRIA
- City: DAMASCUS, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0016WHJSK5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Syrians in Damascus say they are looking forward to Eid al-Adha despite the spiralling prices of festive foods.
The holiday comes in an atmosphere of relief for some residents in Damascus as the Syrian army advance in the Eastern Ghouta region, where rebels are holed up, has continued.
One man described it as the first time since the civil war began that they had been able to celebrate the holiday.
"It is the first Eid when we are really happy because the worst of the crisis is behind us. So the prices are kind of expensive but we are happy with the current situation," said Diaa Hazem.
Large parts of Damascus have survived six years of conflict in Syria relatively unscarred, but shortages of fuel and electricity, high prices and a lack of jobs mean the lives of its residents are far from unscathed.
This year's Eid comes at the same time as the start of the new school year -- an extra burden for those on limited incomes.
"Instead of buying sweets with pistachios, we buy cheaper kinds priced at only 1000 liras per kilo. We have to cope with our situation," said local resident Issam al-Tarras.
So that poorer people can afford the traditional Syrian sweet Maamoul, shop owner Fares Haidar explained how he makes three types of sweets, at different prices, and containing different amounts of pistachios.
Eid al-Adha is a holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world marking the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God's command. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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