SÎLVA ÎBRAHÎM

Manbij- Women in the rural areas of Manbij, a city in northeastern Syria, find alternative solutions against all the crises from nature. On January 15, 2024, the only operational gas plant for domestic use in North and East Syria was completely out of service as a result of the Turkish attacks. Since then, there has been an increase in gas prices in the region. Due to high prices of cooking gas cylinders imported from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the women living in the rural areas of Manbij collect firewood to cook and boil water for households.

Rima Al-Süleyman is a woman in her 90s living in the village of Qara'at Al-Saghir. Due to high prices of cooking gas cylinders, she collects firewood to cook and boil water. “I collect firewood and burn them to bake bread, cook and brew tea. Women in the village gather around the fire to drink tea and chat with each other.”

They return to the past

Şaha Al-Kasmo, 80, spoke about her youth and said, “Every autumn, we would collect firewood for the wood stove. Our daily tasks became easier in time. However, we have returned to the past due to high gas prices. After harvesting olives, women collected firewood to cook and boil water for households. We find alternative solutions from nature.”