Millions are hungry, poor after 10 years of civil war
BEIRUT — The lines stretch for miles outside gas stations in Syrian cities, with an average wait of five hours to fill up a tank. At bakeries, people push and shove during long, chaotic waits for their turn to collect the quota of two bread packs a day per family.
On the streets in the capital of Damascus, beggars accost motorists and passersby, pleading for food or money. Medicines, baby milk and diapers can hardly be found.
As Syria marks the 10th anniversary Monday of the start of its uprisingturnedcivil war, President Bashar Assad may still be in power, propped up by Russia and Iran. But millions of people are being pushed deeper into poverty, and a majority of households can hardly scrape together enough to secure their next meal.
With Assad preparing to run for a fourth sevenyear presidential term in the spring, some have questioned whether he can survive the sharp economic deterioration and anger in areas under his control. Poverty levels are now worse than at any point throughout the 10year conflict.
The decade of war has wreaked unfathomable destruction on Syria. Nearly half a million people have been killed and more than half the prewar population of 23 million displaced, whether inside or outside the country’s borders, the world’s worst displacement crisis since World War II. Infrastructure is in ruins.
Through most of the conflict, Assad was able to shield Syrians in governmentheld territory from unbearable economic pain. Even if barely sometimes, the state kept fuel, medicine and other supplies coming and the currency propped up.
Now he has gained a decisive upper hand in the war with Russia and Iran’s help, his grip on areas under his control is unquestioned, and the rebellion is largely crushed.
The United Nations says more than 80% of Syrians now live in poverty, and 60% are at risk of hunger.