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Syrian extremist group (HTS) has beenÌýaccused of causing a in Idlib province, °®Âþµº's Arabic-language sister service Al-Araby Al-JadeedÌýhas reported.

The armed group, which effectively governs much ofÌýÌývia the Syrian Salvation Government,Ìýraised customs clearance taxes on imports which led to essential ingredientsÌýdoubling in priceÌýwith flourÌýnowÌý$500 per tonne, according toÌýIdlib-based wholesalers.

Despite a globalÌýtrend in inflation, vegetable oil, ghee (liquified butter), and sugar are reportedly available at much lower prices in other parts ofÌýSyria outside regime control, such asÌýterritories controlled byÌýthe Turkish-backed Ìý(³§±·´¡).

This has led civilians in Idlib toÌýhold HTSÌýresponsible for the issue.

The HTS-affiliated Salvation Government handles civilian matters in Idlib and a rise inÌýtaxesÌýhas led toÌýa decrease in imports, a source toldÌýAl-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Economic researcherÌýAbdullah Al-Ali told Al-Araby Al-JadeedÌýthat the food crisis is due toÌýHTS' monopoly on trade and import processes in the region.

Taxes were imposedÌýto discourage merchants from competing with merchants affiliated with the group, he added.

Al-Ali acknowledged the has caused an increase in prices of essential items across the globe but stated this isÌýnotÌýthe reason for the rises in Idlib.

An abundanceÌýof essential goods at reasonable prices in other areas of Syria is evidence of this, he added.

Al-Ali also highlighted thatÌýareas under the HTS control - whichÌýalso monopolisesÌýthe telecommunications and fuel industries in northwest Syria - and the SNA depend onÌýgoods that enter Syria viaÌýTurkey.

However, HTSÌýalso generates revenues by imposing fees on all incoming goods from surrounding areas.

The Syrian Response Coordinators team said that food prices rose in northern Syria by 400 percent, fuel prices by 350 percent, and bread by 300 percent during the last three months of 2021.

Poverty rates reached 90 percent, amid signs of economic collapse in the last opposition stronghold.