Syria – Used clothing market in Raqqa flourishes for its low prices

Location: Raqqa – Syria

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:05:33

Voice: Natural

Source: A24

Restrictions: A24 Clients

Dateline: 21-01-2022

Storyline:

The used clothing market in Raqqa is one of the well-known markets that flourish every Friday, as the majority of the city’s people prefer it for its lower prices compared to the new clothes.

The residents of Raqqa believe that the market offers their needs at reasonable prices since they can’t afford to buy new clothes at high rates.

The used clothing market is near Al-Bayda Park, and it was launched after the liberation of Raqqa city to meet the requirements of low-wage citizens who cannot buy new clothes.

The rise in the US dollar value against the Syrian Lira affects commodities in general, including clothes, consequently leading to the poor purchasing power of people earning less than $60 per month.

• (SOUNDBITE) Mohammed Al-Ahmad – Raqqa citizen:

“We come to Friday market because it is cheaper than the other markets. All the people come to this market because it is all cheap, it opens every Friday and people always go towards the cheap stuff”

• (SOUNDBITE) Displaced from Deir Ez-Zor:

“We came to this market because of the high prices, we are looking for cheap items and we hope that the merchants take into account the conditions of the poor because the financial conditions are very tough, and people cannot buy anything new, they resort to the used market to buy clothes for their children, like me, I am a widow and I have children, I can’t buy new pajamas for my children. I buy used ones, and the rising dollar has affected us badly.”

• (SOUNDBITE) Abdel-Fattah Askari – Used clothes seller:

“The salary is enough, I work during my two off days because I have 5 children, and the salary is not enough, so we work in another job to manage ourselves. My circumstances are harsh, my parents and mother live with me at home, and the salary is enough so I have to work during the two days to support my family, I have no choice”

• (SOUNDBITE) Ahmed al-Ways – Raqqa citizen:

“The low income of the people and their conditions push them to buy used clothes because they cannot afford to buy new clothes due to the high prices. The price of a used jacket, for example, ranges between 15-20 thousand, compared to more than 100 thousand in the market of new clothes; this market meets the needs of all people.

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