The city of Menbij is witnessing an economic recovery and rebuilding activities, in addition to activating the commercial activities in the city, because it is a connection point linking Eastern and Northern parts of the country, amid accusations of monopolising by many traders in the city for a number of goods, cement in particular.
This economic recovery has been met with complains of residents about the low level of public services and lack of improvement in the service and the economic situation after recapturing the city back from ISIS, as the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) have controlled the city August 2016, with air and logistical support from the United States.
It is considered by many that the city is living in a state of economic recovery, as the city has many sources for goods. However, others accuse YPG fighters of monopolising the trade of a number of commodities, including cement and fuel.
Abo Khalouf, a trader of agricultural and electrical supplies in the city, talked to Eqtsad about the economic conditions in the city: “The economic situation has improved a lot, people feel relieved and safe, and there is active movement of sale and purchasing”.
Abo Khalouf cannot find any sort of comparison between the situation these days in Menbij and at ISIS’s time. “Thanks God, at ISIS’s time we felt like being buried alive, nothing is allowed”, he expressed happily.
Abo Ali, a jewellery trader in the old market agreed Abo Khallouf’s point of view saying to Eqtsad: “There was terror in the time of the Islamic State, we were afraid of arrest and confiscation of property once a member of ISIS got annoyed of any simple issue, however, today the situation is relatively better, people feel safe despite of some difficulties”.
Abo Oday, a trader in the city does not have the same attitude of Abo khalouf an Abo Ali, he accused the Kurdish fighters on the city of controlling the trade of many goods coming from Turkey or the regime’s areas to the city.
Many traders in Jarablus confirmed Abo Oday’s statement, they mentioned to Eqtsad that many Kurdish fighter buy materials essential for building like cement and others from traders at the first barrier leading to the city of Menbij, and who refuse selling his load, they keep him in queue for long time till agreeing on their demands.
In regard to cement, Sabri Darwish, a member of the Economic Committee in the Democratic Civil Directorate revealed that they have put a price of S.P 1500 for one bag, reducing the price from S.P 4000, to be available and affordable for all, denying monopolising it.
Food has witnessed a sharp increase in prices according to Ali Abo mahmood, a resident in the area, who complained of the high prices of food and lack of electricity that hardly connected two hours a day.
Houses prices are not an exception, as the rent is too high, according to Abo Rami, a displaced man from Raqqa, who told Eqtsad that his house rent reached to S.P 35,000, while his all monthly income does not exceed S.P 60,000. He complained that there is not any mechanism of monitoring and controlling the increase in houses rent prices.
From his side, Darwish, the member of the emocratic Directorate denied any responsible of the directorate about these prices, as they cannot do anything because the rent prices is determined by supply and demand.
Agriculture in not in better situation, which forced many farmers to abandon farming according to Abo hamoud who left his long-life work in farming, because of the high cost of all materials needed for agriculture, especially fuel, as the price of one barrel of diesel reached to S.P 35,000, in the same time, the price of products like cotton and grain. The farmer revealed that he is now relying on the money he receives from his son in Kuwait.
In his turn, Darwish explained that the prices mentioned by the farmer are in the black market only, and the directorate has limited the price to S.P 9,000 and they distribute between 12,000 and 18,000 litres every day. He mentioned that irrigation projects would be the within the forthcoming plans. He mentioned that they have distributed seeds of wheat and barley to farmers.
Prices of properties have soared in Menbij . a trader in the old market who talked on condition of anonymity revealed that the price of a shop in the market has reached to $650,000, which is considered a plan from the Kurdish organisation to control the city according to the the Economist and a professor of Economy Abdul-Karim Hamoud who find that they are trying to change the city demographically by possessing properties and paying high prices.
Darwish, described the economic situation in Menbij as “very good”, mentioning that they had founded trade and Industry chambers to facilitate traders jobs, added to rehabilitating 60 public and private instituteds including bakeries, mills and public services.
Darwish mentioned that the Democratic Administration, according to his description, has employed 7500 employees, including 4200 teachers and 1700 employees in the service sector, 1600 employees in the bakeries and customs, with salaries ranged between S.P 25,000 and S.P 75,000, which are paid by the Administration, denying forcing any taxes or fees of shops owners.
In his turn, the Economist Abdul-Karim Hamoud considered the situation in Menbij as a “De Facto Authority”. He mentioned that the economic situation in the city these days is much worse than ISIS’s time, as electricity or water are available at lowest limit, added to controlling the fuel by the administration which raised their prices, leading to abandoning thousands of acres of agricultural land, forcing their owners to wait for financial support of their relatives abroad.
Moreover, according to Hamoud, the security situation and agriculture were much better when ISIS controlled the city, as the security situation was under control and only small amount of fees were forced on grain and farming products, as part of “Zakat”.
In regard to properties and real estate situation, Hamoud did not find the revival in the properties market significant, as it is only a natural reaction of people who have their houses demolished due to airstrikes, but it does not activate the real estate market, as people tend to repair and restore what the already have
