ALEPPO, Syria — The rebel-held parts of northern Syria that extend from Aleppo to Idlib and through Hama’s northern countryside are paralyzed; vehicular traffic is significantly reduced while fuel vendors are no longer present on the side of the roads. This was not the case before May 31, when the Islamic State (IS) prevented the entry of fuel to rebel-controlled areas.
The month of Ramadan is different this time around in the city of Aleppo, nearly half of whose neighborhoods are under the control of rebels. Markets there are undergoing an unprecedented recession, and customers are complaining about the higher prices of commodities in general. Fuel scarcity and high prices have also led to an increase in prices of all basic necessities, including food, locally manufactured goods, transportation and water.