Syria Faces Widespread Protests, Rising Suicide Rates Amid Economic Hardship

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Al Mayadeen network reported widespread protests in the city of Qamishli, Syria, in response to the transitional government’s decision to increase fuel prices. Demonstrators are demanding improvements in living conditions.

Deir ez-Zor has also become a scene of protest. Syrian sources indicated that several areas in Deir ez-Zor have witnessed protests and demonstrations due to delays in salary and benefit payments for workers across various sectors. This has led to growing discontent, coinciding with the difficult economic and living conditions faced by residents.

In this regard, resident physicians affiliated with the Deir ez-Zor Health Directorate have not received their salaries for June, July, and August. The June salary was paid at half the usual amount, without the increase stipulated in a recent decree. This has angered physicians, who are demanding full payment of their financial dues and adherence to agreed-upon increases.

According to information received by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the delay in salary payments places a heavier burden on resident physicians due to increased living costs and essential goods, coupled with a lack of transparency regarding the payment of arrears. This exacerbates anxiety and dissatisfaction among healthcare workers.

In the town of Dhiban, in the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside, local employees working at the Al Omar oil field blocked the road leading to the field in protest against not receiving their salaries for nearly eight months. No explanation has been provided regarding the fate of their claims or their employment status.

The road closure disrupted access to the oil field, an action taken to pressure authorities to respond to the employees’ demands. They are calling for the payment of their overdue salaries and clarification of their employment status, especially as the continued delays directly impact their lives and those of their families.

These actions are occurring amidst a rise in complaints regarding overdue and financial dues in Deir ez-Zor, combined with increasing living costs and a decline in purchasing power. This situation is driving workers to organize protests to demand their financial rights, ensure regular salary payments, and prevent prolonged non-payment of wages.

Meanwhile, in Daraa province, physicians, nurses, and staff of the Daraa National Hospital began a sit-in inside the hospital on Tuesday morning, coinciding with the start of a partial strike. They are protesting what they describe as repeated physical and psychological attacks against medical personnel, in the absence of adequate protective measures and preventative actions against the perpetrators.

Protesters emphasized that the hospital should remain a place for treatment and life-saving care, free from chaos, displays of power, attempts to exert influence, or personal vendettas. They stressed that the continuous attacks threaten the safety of staff and patients.

Medical and nursing staff confirmed that the strike does not include emergencies or urgent cases. They stated that this action is a necessary measure to protect staff and patients and preserve the dignity of healthcare institutions, and it is not intended to disrupt medical services or harm patients.

The protesters also announced that the strike will continue until effective and comprehensive protection is provided for medical and nursing staff and patients, and a safe and organized work environment is ensured, enabling them to perform their human and professional duties.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported yesterday that a number of doctors, nurses, and hospital staff had announced their intention to cease providing non-emergency services starting Tuesday, in protest against repeated attacks against them.

This escalation comes amid increasing demands for enhanced security in health facilities and protection for medical personnel, ensuring the continuity of healthcare services and maintaining the safety of patients and staff, at a time when health centers are suffering from mounting challenges and shortages of resources and personnel.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced that frequent suicides in several regions of Syria are a worrying indicator of the immense psychological, social, and economic pressures faced by the population, especially children and youth, amidst deteriorating living conditions and reduced psychosocial support. This is compounded by a lack of appropriate solutions to address these cases and prevent their recurrence.

Since the beginning of September, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has recorded four suicide cases in various areas of northern and eastern Syria. These recurring incidents have raised concerns about the spread of this phenomenon and the urgent need to address it.

The cases documented by the Observatory are spread across the countryside of Kobani, the countryside of Manbij, the eastern countryside of Raqqa, and the city of Aleppo, indicating the geographical scope of these incidents and showing that they are not limited to any specific region.