Tomato Turmoil in Aleppo

Aleppo’s economic crisis is getting worse every day, driven by several factors: economic sanctions on Syria, the fluctuating dollar exchange rate, and rising oil prices, especially since most oil wells are outside government control. This time, the crisis has hit the vegetable sector hard. Vegetable prices have soared this month, adding to the financial strain on families who had already cut out meat from their diets long ago.

One of the most affected vegetables is the tomato, now costing nearly 12,000 Syrian pounds per kilo, about $1. Tomatoes are particularly important to the people of Aleppo because they rely heavily on them in their daily meals. As the situation continues to deteriorate, residents are left wondering how much longer they can endure these relentless economic challenges…