Syrians brace for a long, cold winter - in pictures

As the fuel crisis starts to bite, many turn to cheaper alternatives such as wood to keep themselves warm

Ahlam Warda, a single mother raising three children, sits next to a wood-fire heater at her home in Damascus, Syria. All photos: Reuters

With another harsh winter around the corner, Syrians have to take yet more desperate measures to try and stay warm. 'Last year a neighbour's son died from the cold ... How can I not be worried about my children? They are young,' she said

Syria's economic collapse, triggered by years of conflict, sanctions, a currency meltdown and the government's loss of its oil territories, has been pushing millions deeper into poverty every year

People who still qualify for subsidised diesel can buy 50 litres for 500 Syrian pounds (less than 10 US cents) a litre, but supply has been slow and patchy and the quantities are not enough to last a family for long

Many Syrians have switched their traditional diesel stoves, used to cook meals and heat homes, to alternatives fuelled by firewood or even pistachio shells

Mohammad Kaweir said the advantage of shell heaters was that almond and pistachio shells needed to run them were always available in the market

Abdullah Tuweit, who owns a workshop that produces heaters, began to convert them three years ago to allow them to run on more affordable husks and shells

Suleiman Al Khaled, 34, uses a wood-fire heater at his home in Syria

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