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An estimated 70% of families living in Assad regime-controlled areas of did not receive their share of subsidized heating fuel, regime authorities��announced on Saturday.

The situation has caused great concern��as families prepare to enter the ��with limited resources to face the cold.

The Syrian regime's Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection blamed the owners of fuel distribution vehicles for the alarmingly high shortage,��and called for better planning and cooperation at the local level.

It said that vendors were selling the fuel��too far away from where those eligible for the subsidized fuel live.

"The distribution of heating fuel to citizens has not started yet in the city of Jableh.��The distribution was limited to a few��villages around, and only one family accessed a ration of 50 liters," media activist Hossam Jablawi told��������'s Arabic language service.

��"This ration can last five days, at best, for a family that owns one heater,” he added.

Syria's system of subsidies is implemented through a "smart card" system, through which families can access a quota of certain goods at a preferential price.

But��the system has been marred by widespread corruption, with some regime officials diverting subsidized goods in order to resell them on the black market.��

This year promises to be particularly difficult for families after the��Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources reduced the quota of subsidized fuel to 50 liters per family, compared to 200 liters in the previous winter.

The��price of fuel following the government's decision to reduce support to this sector.��

The Assad regime blames Western sanctions for its inability to import more fuel, leading to shortages.��

Syria currently imports most of its fuel��from Iran, which has provided a credit line to the regime. Sanctions and the��lack of foreign currency��have��discouraged most��other��countries from trading with Syrian authorities.

“I waited and was able to get 50 liters of diesel, which is a very small amount considering the long winter ahead," Ali, a teacher residing in Damascus, told the New Arab's Arabic service.

"The only��heating method that we can rely on��are��blankets. Families must be patient and endure through the winter season," he added.