A United Nations report, “Squandering Humanity“, has documented the economic and social toll of Syria’s 38-month conflict.
The report, covering June-December 2013, estimates that about 75% of Syrians are impoverished, with 54.3% living in extreme poverty. About 20% can barely meet basic needs. Almost 11 million dependents — half of Syria’s pre-war population — have lost their primary means of financial support, and 2.67 million people have become unemployed.
The regime is under increasing strain to meet those needs, as public debt reached 126% of GDP. Trying to import oil and basic commodities, Damascus is now increasingly reliant on borrowing, especially from Iran.
The total loss in the conflict is estimated at $143.8 billion. GDP has dropped almost 40%.
Syria has fallen from the “medium” cluster of nations to the “low human development” group, with declines in education, health, and income.
More than half of school-age children no longer attend school, with the figure above 90% in Raqqa and Aleppo and 68% per cent in Damascus Province. About 4,000 schools are out of service because they have been destroyed or damaged or they shelter internally displaced Syrians.
The report summarizes that 61 of 91 public hospitals have damaged with 45% out of service. More than 50 private hospitals are also affected.
