04:12Syria: Locals resort to public baths due to lack of diesel, power shortages
Syrian public baths, the so-called hammams, have become popular again, as footage filmed on Thursday in Damascus shows.
Local residents eager to save money on skyrocketing electricity costs are resorting to public baths away from home.
Hammams used to be more of a relaxation ritual that locals visited a few times a month. However, the oil crisis that triggered fuel shortages, including heating water in the local water pipes, has increased attendance at these places for daily hygiene rituals.
The owners of the hammams attribute this increase to the difficulties of securing hot water and electricity to light up bathrooms in private houses, and the high price of them on the black market.
"Today, people are forced to come here since they can't take a bath in their houses because it will be more expensive there than the public bath," explains hammam owner Firas Kogas.
In addition, hammam visitors have to cope with the reduced number of facilities.
04:12Syrian public baths, the so-called hammams, have become popular again, as footage filmed on Thursday in Damascus shows.
Local residents eager to save money on skyrocketing electricity costs are resorting to public baths away from home.
Hammams used to be more of a relaxation ritual that locals visited a few times a month. However, the oil crisis that triggered fuel shortages, including heating water in the local water pipes, has increased attendance at these places for daily hygiene rituals.
The owners of the hammams attribute this increase to the difficulties of securing hot water and electricity to light up bathrooms in private houses, and the high price of them on the black market.
"Today, people are forced to come here since they can't take a bath in their houses because it will be more expensive there than the public bath," explains hammam owner Firas Kogas.
In addition, hammam visitors have to cope with the reduced number of facilities.