Syrian juice vendor gears up for Ramadan as coronavirus crisis bits

Gulf Today Report

In a busy market in Syria's capital, the popular street vendor, Ishaaq Kremed, serenades customers and agilely pours tamarind juice from the ornate brass jug on his back ahead of Ramadan.

The tamarind juice seller says he usually has more customers during the Islamic holy month starting this week, during which many favour the drink to break their day-long fast at sundown.

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But he says his trade of more than 40 years has also taken on new meaning since the country has been plunged into economic crisis.

 Ishaaq Kremed poses for a picture with his ornate brass jug. AFP

"My main job is to make customers smile," says the moustachioed father of 16, dressed in billowing trousers, a patterned waistcoat and red fez.

"What's most important is that they leave me feeling happy — that whoever turns up stressed leaves feeling content," adds the street vendor.

On his daily rounds of the Hamidiyah covered market, dozens of customers approach him to quench their thirst, often taking pictures of him and his traditional get-up with their cellphones.

Financial worries

Syria's economic crisis has sent prices soaring and caused the national currency to plummet in value against the dollar on the black market, according to AFP.

In a country where a large majority of people live in poverty, Syrians have also had to contend with several lockdowns to stem the spread of coronavirus.

  Ishaaq Kremed pours some tamarind juice for a customer. AFP

"For three years, Ramadan has been different because of people's financial worries," Kremed says.

The Damascus government blames the economic crisis on Western sanctions, but economists say the conflict, the pandemic and the financial crisis in neighbouring Lebanon are also major factors.

Some state institutions have temporarily been closed over the pandemic and the economic crisis, but for now, markets remain open.

Although he does his best to keep up a cheery demeanour, Kremed says he too is feeling the effects of the economic crunch.

Tamarind and sugar are becoming increasingly costly, he says, and not everyone has enough spare cash for a refreshment.

"People's priorities have become putting food and drink on the table, before tamarind juice," he says.