Heating options limited as winter sets in Syria - Enab Baladi

As temperatures drop with the arrival of winter, the energy situation in Syria illustrates a deep crisis where access to heating becomes a major challenge. Faced with fuel shortages, rising prices, and deteriorating infrastructure, Syrians must navigate limited options to ensure effective and safe home heating. Regional and social disparities exacerbate this difficulty, worsening the impact of the energy crisis on a population already weakened by over a decade of conflict and economic hardships.

Limited heating options amid a severe energy crisis in Syria

In Syria, the energy system is marked by a persistent failure that particularly affects heating supply. The fuel shortage — particularly diesel, traditionally used for domestic heating — and frequent power outages significantly reduce options for keeping homes warm during often harsh winter conditions.

The current energy crisis, which combines both a worn-out electrical grid and a highly unstable fuel market, makes electric heating an impractical alternative for a large part of the population. Supply hours are often very limited, and electricity now costs more than diesel, which drives many families to abandon this solution in favor of methods that may be more risky or inefficient.

The reality is even harsher in displacement camps and rural areas, where the situation translates into an almost total lack of guaranteed heating means, forcing populations to resort to flammable recovery materials like cardboard or plastic, at the peril of their health and fire safety.

• High dependence on diesel despite rising prices

• Intermittent and expensive electricity

• Use of dangerous recovery materials in camps

• Significant regional inequalities in access to heating solutions

Diesel and electric heating: essential but costly choices during the Syrian winter

In major urban areas like Damascus, families still largely favor diesel heating. This method is considered the most reliable for effective home warming despite the high fuel prices. Paul Leclerc recalls that well-maintained diesel heaters are installations that can provide stable and quality heat while being simple to operate, which explains their popularity in Syria during this complicated period.

That being said, the intermittent electricity in the Syrian grid forces many people to adapt: some continue to use low-power electric heaters to temper modest-sized rooms, especially children's bedrooms, when electricity is available. However, the impact on bills is high due to the constantly rising rates, discouraging prolonged use of these appliances.

Individual choices reflect these fluctuating economic realities:

• Diesel: although increasing, diesel prices remain more accessible than gas or electricity during off-peak hours.

• Electricity: used sporadically, often at night or early in the morning to take advantage of electricity when available.

• Gas: decreasing in some rural areas, with a high cost that limits access.

Syrian testimonies report that households are trying to combine these methods according to their means: “It’s not a choice of comfort, but a necessity to avoid the risks associated with intense cold,” explains a father in the suburbs of Damascus.

The importance of wood and artisanal alternatives for heating in rural Syrian areas

In rural areas and certain provinces like Daraa or the countryside of Aleppo, traditional methods remain predominant. Firewood holds a central place for its efficiency and relative accessibility. Paul Leclerc emphasizes that well-designed and maintained wood stoves provide excellent thermal performance and can ensure significant comfort even when shortages of other fuels are pronounced.

Inhabitants of these regions often adapt their installations to their habitat: isolated homes have robust appliances, and families generally do without bulky electric devices. In coastal areas, the use of traditional fuels like olive pits or pistachio shells, common among some, is also noted. These local raw materials serve to fuel specific stoves, providing valuable heat without relying on costly fossil fuels.

However, the popularity of wood heating has decreased in light of constraints:

• Rising wood prices linked to transportation and restrictions

• Health impact of wood heating on indoor pollution

• Irregular availability of materials in certain regions

Camps in Syria: rudimentary heating and energy security challenges

The displacement camps in northern Syria illustrate the darkest side of this energy crisis. Completely left without solid support, residents must improvise often very dangerous heating methods. The lack of access to conventional fuels, combined with extreme precariousness, drives them to use flammable materials like plastics, cardboard, and used oils, which generate insufficient heat and toxic smoke.

This reliance on dangerous alternatives not only worsens the health situation by increasing the risk of respiratory diseases among children and the elderly but also constitutes a permanent fire hazard within precarious habitats.

The few bags of coal distributed in some past winters have not been delivered this year, plunging thousands of families into a winter marked by cold and vulnerability.

• Use of recovery materials for heating

• Major air pollution and health risks

• Urgent need for targeted humanitarian aid for heating

• Need for sustainable support to improve energy security in these areas

Perspectives and sustainable solutions for accessible heating in Syria

The future of heating in Syria largely depends on the capacity of local and international actors to establish policies and programs suited to the country’s energy and social situation. The economic weight imposed by the liberalization of fuel prices and the removal of subsidies has weakened households, especially the most modest.

Experts recommend several areas for improvement to support energy security during the winter:

• Restructuring of aid: introduction of targeted cash transfers to help vulnerable families acquire fuel, thus reducing inequalities.

• Investment in renewable energies: encourage the use of solar heating and high-efficiency thermal devices to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

• Encouragement of heating solutions tailored to local realities: loans for the purchase of efficient systems, planting fast-growing trees for sustainable firewood.

• Development of clear government programs: to subsidize diesel and regulate energy markets to protect households.

For more information on heating choices and available aid, consult specialized articles such as those from Avenir Énergétique or the guides from ENGIE on heating solutions this winter.

The winter season also requires adopting effective strategies to optimize consumption and adjust heating systems to ease costs, according to recommendations from ADEME. Particular attention should be paid to the maintenance of installations to ensure their safety and efficiency throughout the cold season.

To delve deeper and benefit from practical advice regarding heating management during winter, it is also useful to visit valuable resources such as the document A comfortable winter published by the Ministry of Ecology, which offers strategies tailored to current constraints.