Key facts
- Syrians are experiencing a severe cost-of-living crisis with soaring prices for essentials.
- Protests erupted last month over fuel price increases, which were subsequently revoked.
- The price of bread has increased tenfold, and fuel prices are now at international averages.
- The UN Development Programme reported that 90% of Syrians were in poverty last year.
- Reconstruction costs are estimated at $216 billion, requiring foreign investment.
Syrians are grappling with a severe cost-of-living crisis, marked by soaring prices for essential goods and services, two years after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Protests erupted last month over a government decision to raise fuel prices, the largest show of discontent since President Ahmed al-Sharaa took power. The price of bread has increased tenfold, and fuel prices are now in line with international averages, while electricity costs have risen significantly. Many Syrians report a worsening financial situation, with widespread unemployment and difficulty affording basic necessities like food and medicine. Aid agencies have also been forced to cut back services due to funding cuts. The government's austerity measures and transition to a free-market economy are cited as contributing factors to the crisis, alongside the legacy of conflict and mismanagement. Reconstruction costs are estimated at $216 billion, with foreign investment deemed essential for rebuilding the war-torn country.