12/11/2015 HowhaveordinarySyriansbeenaffectedbytheconflict?

BBCNews

News Sport Weather Shop Earth Travel

HowhaveordinarySyriansbeenaffectedbytheconflict?
ByDavidButter
ChathamHouse

8hoursago MiddleEast

GettyImages

Morethan250,000Syrianshavelosttheirlivesandmorethan11millionhavefledtheir
homesinfourandahalfyearsofcivilwar.Andinthepastyear,airstrikesagainstso
calledIslamicState(IS)inthecountryhaveincreased,withtheUKrecentlyjoiningthe
USledcoalition.

TherealitiesofdaytodaylifeforordinarySyrianstendtogetlostamidthedepictionsofthe
horrorsoftheconflict,thecomplicatedfaultlinesandpoliticalagendas.

ArecentreportfromDamascusbyChannel4'sLindseyHilsumwasarareexception,
focusingonabusstationwheretravellersfromRaqqawerepreparingtoheadhometoterritory
heldbyISaftervisitingthecapitaltoseerelatives,buyprovisionsor,inthecaseofoneelderly
woman,tocollecttheirstatepension.

In2011,therewere21millionSyrianslivinginthecountry,accordingtothestatestatistics
agency.
http://www.bbc.com/news/worldmiddleeast34710483 1/16
12/11/2015 HowhaveordinarySyriansbeenaffectedbytheconflict?BBCNews

Sincethen,morethanfourmillionhaveregisteredwiththeUNasrefugeesinneighbouring
countries,andalmosthalfamillionhaveappliedforasyluminEurope.

Theremainingpopulationisprobablynotmorethan16million,andabouthalfofthesepeople
havefledtheirhomestoseekrelativesafetyelsewherewithinSyria.

AccordingtotheUN,thereare12.2millionSyriansinneedofhumanitarianassistance,almost
halfofthemchildren.TheUNitselfmeetssomeoftheseneedsthroughprovidingfood,
healthcare,sanitationandsomeeducation.

However,itsoperationsareconcentratedintheareascontrolledbythegovernment.People
livinginrebelheldareasdependonsuppliesfromnongovernmentalorganisations(NGOs),
suchastheSyrianRecoveryTrustFund,whichworksdirectlywithlocalcommunitiesin
http://www.bbc.com/news/worldmiddleeast34710483 2/16
12/11/2015 HowhaveordinarySyriansbeenaffectedbytheconflict?BBCNews

coordinationwiththeopposition'sinterimgovernment.

TheSyriangovernmenthassoughttomaintaintheimpressionitiscontinuingtofunctiondespite
thecrisis.

MostSyrianfamilies,eveninareascontrolledbytheoppositionorIS,continuetohavesome
contactwiththegovernment.

Thereareanestimated1.5millionpeoplestillonthegovernmentpayroll,includingcivilservants
andteacherslivingoutsidethegovernmentcontrolledareas.

However,thegovernmenthaslimitedrevenue.

Itnolongerexportsoil,whichpreviouslyaccountedforaboutonefifthofstatebudgetrevenue,
http://www.bbc.com/news/worldmiddleeast34710483 3/16
12/11/2015 HowhaveordinarySyriansbeenaffectedbytheconflict?BBCNews

andincomefromtaxandcustomshasdwindled.

ThestategetsbythroughprintingmoneyandthroughcreditlinesforIran,whichsupplies
enoughoiltokeeponeofthecountry'smainrefineriesoperatingatabouttwothirdsofits
capacity.

Syria'seconomyhascontractedbymorethanhalfsincethestartoftheconflict.

ThepurchasingpoweroftheSyrianpoundhascollapsedoverthecourseoftheconflict,asthe
exchangeratehasfallenfromabout50Syrianpoundstothedollartomorethan300today.

Theaveragestatesalaryisonlyworthabout$100(65)permonth,comparedwithanestimated
householdrequirementofatleast$400(260).ManySyriansdependonfundssentfrom
relativesabroad,ofteninbundlesofcashviacouriersandbrokers.

NotallSyriansaresufferingthough.Businessgroupsthatenjoythepatronageofthesecurity
statemakeprofitsfromhoardingscarcecommoditiesandthroughlevyingfeesatthedozensof
checkpointsthroughwhichpeopleandgoodsmustpass.

However,formostSyrians,lifeisgrim,andthelongertheconflictgoesontheworsearethe
prospectsfortheireconomicfuture.

DavidButterisanassociatefellowintheMiddleEastandNorthAfricaprogrammeatthethink
tankChathamHouse,whichisrunningtheSyriaanditsNeighboursPolicyInitiative.

SharethisstoryAboutsharing

Syria'swar

Background
Arethere70,000Syrian'moderates'readytobackUK?
1December2015

Turkey'sdowningofRussianwarplanewhatweknow
1December2015

RussiatoTurkey:Don'ttryitagain
25November2015

Wasjetdowninganoverreaction?
24November2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/worldmiddleeast34710483 4/16