Buying large blocks of ice is one of the few ways Syrians can cope with the scorching summer heat. The country's electricity supply has worsened in recent weeks, just as demand for cooling and air conditioning has peaked, despite government promises to improve service and ensure 10 hours of power a day initially, followed by round-the-clock availability.
Many Syrians are pinning their hopes on longer electricity hours following recent government investments, including the arrival of Azerbaijani gas through a new regional pipeline, which has raised expectations for a more reliable power supply. For now, however, Syria is experiencing the same heatwave hitting Israel.
At the forefront of the struggle against the heat are ice sellers, who stand in residential neighborhoods under makeshift tents for shade, trying to attract customers despite rising prices. Mahmoud al-Tallawi, a street vendor from a village near Damascus, claims he sells ice at a bargain, 5,000 Syrian pounds (about 50 cents) per block, compared with 7,000 pounds in stores. While that may seem negligible elsewhere, in Syria's shattered economy it can equal a day's wage.
In Damascus, demand for ice blocks fluctuates according to the hours of available electricity. Syrian families struggle to keep food fresh, and spoilage is common. Samira al-Masri, a 37-year-old teacher from the Qudsaya suburb and a mother of two, described the heatwave as "utterly demoralizing."
"Today we had one hour of power, followed by five without, nowhere near enough for the refrigerator to work," she complained. Ice, she said, has become the only alternative to preserve food.
Haj Massoud Mohibar, 70, from the Damascus suburbs, noted that hot water flowing through household pipes forces residents to use ice regularly to cool it, yet another expense in a country where many have nothing. Siham Mahmoud, a housewife from the Tishrin neighborhood in Damascus, said most residents buy ice from shops powered by solar systems and fuel-driven generators. While ice prevents food from spoiling, it adds to household expenses, and waiting in long lines for it is unpleasant in the sweltering heat.
Speaking to the Syrian state television website, Siham added: "We need a second salary just to buy ice. With water often as hot as the weather, over 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), ice is indispensable. I just hope the weather changes soon."
