Jan 12, 2015 – Our Weekly Selection
A dozen articles published in the last week on various economic and social issues in Syria.
Canada opens door to 13,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees: “But Ottawa is expecting private organizations such as charities and churches to pick up the tab to resettle as many as 60 per cent of the refugees, putting a question mark over just how many will be able to actually seek refuge here.”
Kurdish Fighters Capture 6 Billion SYP in Grain: Regime Official: “Activist Mahmood al-Ahmad told Zaman al-Wasl the regime had contracted traders to transfer grain to Damascus and its costal areas from Hassakeh and Qamishli, after losing control of roads passing through areas controlled by ISIS.”
Winter storms sweep across Syria and neighbouring countries: “We are particularly concerned about the situation in Lebanon where many refugees spread out over 1,700 settlements live in precarious situations. There have been reports of more than 100 shelters and tents damaged across the country.”
Beyond Arms and Beards: Local Governance of ISIS in Syria
Economic Effects of the Syrian War and the Spread of the Islamic State on the Levant: “This paper quantifies the economic effects of the Syrian war and the advance of the Islamic State (IS or ISIS) on six Levant economies – the Arab Republic of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Turkey.
To Put Food on the Table in Turkey, Enterprising Syrians Sell ‘Taste of Home’: “Syrian refugees in Turkey are importing coffee, cigarettes, and other simple and inexpensive products from their homeland to sell to fellow refugees. The extra income barely covers costs for many households.”
Syria’s Assad depending on Iran financial aid: “In addition to Syria’s financial collapse, Assad is resorting to harsh measures to recruit unwilling fighters for his army.”
Old diseases return as Syrian doctors warn of ‘medical disaster’: “A lack of doctors, supplies and drugs have plunged the country back into the medical dark ages, with polio and scabies back with a vengeance as many children are no longer vaccinated, while the majority of births take place at home.”
Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria, An islamic emirate for al-Qaeda: “In order to deny al-Qaeda safe-haven in Syria, the United States must neutralize JN’s campaign to influence the population. This requires engagement with opposition forces, not simply airstrikes against JN.”
The Islamic State: “The Islamic State is most notable for the violence with which it asserts control, but its ruthless tactics will likely prevent the group from ruling effectively and building broader support beyond the front line fighters who protect its security and the authoritarian killers who patrol its streets.”
Haboosh: Regime Will Crumble Economically Before Militarily: “Syrian businessman and opposition figure, Muhiiddin Haboosh, claimed the fall of the regime would come economically rather than militarily, especially in light of the stifling economic crisis in Iran.”