Damascus, Syria - May 11, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland/Orient TV/Syria Alshaab TV/Zanoubia TV/Alhurra TV/ANN TV/Al Jazeera/Al-Arabiya TV)
1. Various of people at second-hand clothing market
2. Various of stall packed with second-hand clothes
3. Various of second-hand clothing shop
4. Various of second-hand clothes
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Shadi Albayat, owner of second-hand clothing shop:
"Our business has improved because of the Syrian crisis as people want better quality with lower prices."
6. People choosing second-hand clothes from back of truck
7. Second-hand shoes, clothes at shop
8. Hasan Hamwi, customer, trying on second-hand clothes
9. Second-hand shoes, clothes at shop
10. Hamwi picking second-hand shoes
11. Second-hand shoes, clothes at shop
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hasan Hamwi, customer:
"Since second-hand clothes are cheaper and the economic situation is getting worse, people are more inclined to buy these clothes."
13. Various of second-hand clothes
14. Various of customer choosing second-hand clothes

Years of wars in Syria have not only caused a huge humanitarian disaster, but also have exerted a huge, negative effect on Syria's economy. Syrian people's purchasing power has diminished while prices are rising rapidly due to the economic sanctions from western countries. As a result, purchasing clothes at second-hand markets has become Syrian people's alternative option.

One of the most famous second-hand clothing markets in Syria is located near the old city of Damascus, the nation's capital. Before the war, the business at this market was stagnant. However, since the crisis began, the dual pressures of war and western sanctions have battered the Syrian economy, resulting in an increasing number of people purchasing second-hand goods. At present, the market is always crowded with shoppers looking for satisfactory bargains.

Shadi Albayat, who owns a second-hand clothing shop at the market, has been working there for ten years. He said that the sales of his second-hand store are twice as high as before the war in spite of the misery of the Syrian crisis.

"Our business has improved because of the Syrian crisis as people want better quality with lower prices," said Albayat.

Second-hand clothes of all sizes and styles are piled up at the market, which were originally bought by the shop owners by the kilo, and then were washed, ironed and put on the shelves for customers to select. The goods often come from different countries, and are shipped to the neighboring country Lebanon before eventually entering the markets in Syria.

As the current economic situation in Syria has forced many textile factories to use inferior materials to reduce costs, newly-produced clothes are of poor quality and are beyond the majority's means. Hasan Hamwi is one of the customers, and he said that many people choose to purchase second-hand clothes now instead of buying expensive new ones.

"Since second-hand clothes are cheaper and the economic situation is getting worse, people are more inclined to buy these clothes," said Hamwi.

Although the second-hand markets are now popular among many Syrians, the sanitary condition of clothes is worrisome due to the uneven clothe-processing abilities of different shops and lack of corresponding supervision. Many people say that buying second-hand items is a choice that can't be helped for now. However, they are still hoping for their country to return to stability and for their economy to get back on the right track.