Damascus residents rush to buy flatbread as bakeries reopen, ration limits raise

Syrians in Damascus have flocked to local bakeries as stores reopened days after the country's opposition forces-led transitional government took power.

Flatbread is a staple food for Syrians. Due to a long-standing bread shortage, the now-toppled Assad government introduced a smart card system, restricting residents' purchases to a set quantity of subsidized goods at authorized retailers.

The newly formed transitional government has not fully lifted the restrictions but has raised the daily allowable purchases.

"In the past, each card allowed a person to buy only two packs of flatbread per day. Now, a person can purchase up to four packs of bread a day," said a bakery operator.

However, supply shortages persist, and some bakeries have limited purchases to one or two packs per person. Large crowds continue to gather at stores, eager to buy food.

Currently, the transitional government is trying to save the small wheat reserves in Syria and also looking to import flour from other countries to ensure a steady supply.

The situation in Syria has undergone a dramatic shift in recent days. Mohammed al-Bashir, head of the "Syrian Salvation Government" in Idlib formed in 2017 by the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other Syrian militant groups during the Syrian civil war, announced on Dec. 10 that he has been tasked with heading a transitional government in Syria until early March 2025.

Damascus residents rush to buy flatbread as bakeries reopen, ration limits raise

Damascus residents rush to buy flatbread as bakeries reopen, ration limits raise

Damascus residents rush to buy flatbread as bakeries reopen, ration limits raise

Damascus residents rush to buy flatbread as bakeries reopen, ration limits raise

Rescue work is ongoing after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit Vanuatu on Tuesday, causing widespread damage and building collapses in the Pacific Island country and leaving at least one person dead, according to reports.

The quake struck approximately 37 km from the capital Port Vila at 12:47 local time on Tuesday, leading to a tsunami warning being issued which was later lifted by authorities.

As rescue efforts continue, a mass casualty triage has been set up at a hospital in Port Vila, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

Video footage from the capital showed buildings have suffered varying degrees of damage, with some collapsing, while landslides have also been reported. Video taken by an overseas Chinese resident showed cracks appearing on an asphalt road.

Vanuatu is also facing communication difficulties in the wake of the quake, with a reporter from China Central Television (CCTV) saying he was unable to contact overseas Chinese residents in Port Vila.

The reporter, who is based on Espiritu Santo Island some 200 kilometers north of the capital, noted there were clear tremors felt there.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter was measured at a depth of 43 km, while a the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also raised an alert in the area shortly after the quake struck.

Pacific Island countries such as Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu lie on the notorious Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones where continental plates collide, producing frequent seismic activities.

Rescue work ongoing after 7.3-magnitude quake hits Vanuatu