The spread of stalls selling various types of used clothing and shoes in Deir Ezzor, eastern Syria, has created an opportunity for families to purchase their needs at lower prices.
The proliferation of these stalls has impacted local shops selling Syrian and imported Turkish goods, with sales dropping by more than 60%, according to shop owners interviewed by Enab Baladi.
The prices of second-hand clothing have also decreased compared to the end of 2024, due to the improvement of the Syrian pound against the US dollar, with 10,100 Syrian pounds now equivalent to one US dollar.
Prices attract customers
According to monitoring by Enab Baladi, there is a significant influx of residents to the stalls, leading to congestion, due to the low prices of used items and the inability to buy new essentials.
Tulin al-Rakad, a government employee in Deir Ezzor, told Enab Baladi that she found items at the stalls that she could afford for her three children, with the price of clothing pieces ranging between 5,000 and 10,000 Syrian pounds.
She added that the price of shoes ranges between 5,000 and 25,000 Syrian pounds, depending on their “quality and wear,” noting that the prices are “acceptable and satisfactory.”
Stalls of second-hand clothing are widespread in Deir Ezzor – January 29, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Obadah al-Sheikh)
Rabi’ al-Hajj Obeid, a seller of used clothing in Deir Ezzor, told Enab Baladi that there has been an increase in interest in used clothing over the past few weeks, due to its lower prices.
He attributed the price drop to the absence of “bribes” that were previously imposed by the checkpoints of the former Syrian regime, and the improved value of the Syrian pound against the US dollar.
He noted that there has been increased demand for children’s clothing and winter jackets of all kinds, due to the rising prices of new garments, which can be 20 times higher than those of used ones.
The sources of used clothing vary, as it arrives through Idlib from Turkey and from Qamishli coming from Iraq, creating competition in its prices.
Plans to organize markets
Abdul Aziz Abdul Aziz, head of the Technical Services Department in Deir Ezzor province under the interim government of Damascus, told Enab Baladi that the department and the municipal council, in cooperation with the police forces, are working on eliminating all violations and securing a space for the stalls, which is in the process of preparation and completion.
He mentioned that the department is working on establishing several markets to relocate all “violators” there. Furthermore, police and municipal patrols are conducting regular rounds to remove these violations and clear paths for residents, as well as to prevent traffic congestion on the main roads in the city, with most violations concentrated on al-Wadi street in the al-Joura neighborhood.
In recent weeks, the prices of goods and food items have decreased, but market activity remains stagnant due to poor living and economic conditions and the diminished financial capability of the residents.