Syria’s Economic Crisis Magnifies Human Tragedy
Often eclipsed by the Syrian conflict’s exorbitant human cost, the embattled country’s economy has plummeted over the past three years under stringent international sanctions.
![An employee stamps stacks of Syrian pound notes at the Syrian central bank in Damascus An employee stamps stacks of Syrian pound notes at the Syrian central bank in Damascus April 23, 2013. Picture taken April 23, 2013. To match SYRIA-CURRENCY/ REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT BUSINESS) - RTXYYC3](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2013/08/1-RTXYYC3.jpg/1-RTXYYC3.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=DYyBhbBd)
International and Arab attention is focused on the developments on the ground in Syria and the geographical dimension of the crisis. The fall of a city or neighborhood into the hands of a certain faction or the arrival of certain kinds of weapons to a particular military group elicits analyses and counter-analyses, mixed expectations and leaves decision-makers powerless and confused.
Today, however, the surprise that changes the balance of power may come from a completely different angle: the economic angle.