As the Caesar Act went into effect, streets in Damascus appeared empty with retail shops closed and sidewalks rendered hollow from walkers. Taxi drivers roamed the empty streets looking for passengers, yet with no avail.
The Syrian state news agency SANA reported citizens taking to the streets in Homs city against the US legislation, which will sanction the Syrian government and affect the war-torn country’s national economy.
“Participants in a national stand held Thursday at the Martyrs Square at Homs city center expressed rejection and condemnation of the unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Syrian people, and the so-called ‘Caesar Act’,” SANA reported.
Government reactions to the legislation burdened the street with an atmosphere of anticipation, fear, and mistrust as it was accompanied by a tightening of market surveillance, and the imposition of fines and royalties on sellers, amid a sharp decline in purchasing power.
This comes as the pound hit 2,900 amid a hike in the price of gold.
On Thursday, Syrian authorities spearheaded an arrest campaign against retail owners and money changers to prohibit them from closing shop or selling at a price different from the official rate.
Backing Damascus, Moscow accused Washington of exploiting civilians in Syria under the excuse of “protecting them against the regime.” Iranian officials, on the other hand, contacted their Syrian counterparts with the aim of “boosting coordination and evading sanctions,” Damascus-based sources reported.
A new report released by the World Bank revealed that a decade of conflict in Syria has strangled economic growth among its neighbors and driven poverty higher in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.
The war has also led to higher debt burdens, deteriorating labor markets, especially for youth and women, and more restricted access to public services such as health care and electricity, the report said.
