DAMASCUS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- 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 subsidized 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.
Despite the nearly 11-year-long conflict, the government in Syria has managed to continue providing citizens with subsidized food and fuel, as well as health care.
However, due to the economic sanctions imposed by the United States 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. ■
