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

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

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  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

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  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

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  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

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

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

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  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

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

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