On Thursday, the World Food Programme said that a record 9.3 million people suffer from food insecurity in Syria, a figure that has leapt by more than two million in just six months. More than half of all its citizens risk going hungry, with little access to food supplies to sustain themselves and their families on a daily basis. This alarming development has come at a time of great economic distress and a huge health crisis for the world at large – and for war-torn Syria in particular.
Nine years of conflict have proven devastating for the Syrian people and wreaked havoc on the nation’s economy, pushing 80 per cent of the population below the poverty line, according to United Nations estimates.
In addition to long-standing hardships, a financial crisis that hit neighbouring Lebanon in November has taken a toll on its own economy, leading to the collapse of the Syrian pound and inflation. Many Syrians keep their savings in Lebanese banks, as their home country has little access to the global economy owing to international sanctions. However, Lebanon’s banking system is now reeling under an unprecedented crisis, which has been compounded by a shortage of US dollars to which the Lebanese pound is pegged.
And now, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are putting additional strain on Syrians. Measures to curb the spread of the virus have adversely affected government-held areas – as well as people’s pockets. In March, videos showing people chasing trucks that were distributing bread in Aleppo, where bakeries were closed during the lockdown, underlined the appalling living conditions of ordinary people.
This new reality is all the more shocking as Syria’s elite continues to amass riches from the country’s war economy. A few weeks ago, Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of President Bashar Al Assad and a business tycoon believed to have monopolised up to 60 per cent of the national economy, posted a plea on Facebook after the regime ordered measures against his companies. However, Mr Makhlouf was seen to be pleading for his enormous fortunes at a time when a majority of Syrians can barely afford to feed their loved ones.
This new reality is all the more shocking as Syria's elite continues to amass riches from the country's war economy
“More funds are urgently needed to save lives – we cannot let Syrian families down now,” the WFP recently tweeted. But as each country turns inward to respond to an unprecedented global health crisis and deal with its massive economic toll, there are concerns that the international community will have little time and few funds to spare for those in need in other parts of the globe.
There has been disappointingly little appetite among the world's powers to come together in the fight against coronavirus. And with international travel heavily restricted, ordinary Syrians find themselves in a precarious situation, with nowhere left to go and no one to turn to for support.
As Eid Al Fitr approaches, the people of Syria deserve to look forward to things other than more of the same hardships.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
Price, base / as tested: Dh76,900 / Dh110,900
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Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: Torque: 352Nm @ 2,500rpm
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Key facilities
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EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
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How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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