Kassioun Editorial 1131: In Syria, Silencing with Hunger!

• In July 2021, according to Kassioun’s quarterly indicator, the cost of the basic consumption basket for a family of 5 was: 1,240,000 SYP; while in July 2023, it reached 4,100,000 SYP.
• In July 2021, the exchange rate of the SYP against the dollar was around 3200 SYP to one dollar; in July 2023, the exchange rate is close to 10,000 SYP to one dollar.
• Assuming that for every 5 individuals there are two income earners, the official minimum wage in Syria for a family of 5 has “increased” from July 2021 to July 2023 from 142,000 SYP to 186,000 SYP.
• From the cost-of-living perspective, in 2021, the minimum wage for a family of 5 with two incomes covered 11.4% of the basic cost of living, and now it covers 4.5%; that is, the wage has actually decreased by 60%.
• From the exchange rate perspective, the minimum was equal to 22 dollars in 2021, and now it is 9.3 dollars; the rate of decrease here is about the same, i.e., a decrease of nearly 60% of the wage.

Among the most important reasons behind this continuing catastrophic deterioration in Syrians’ lives are the following:
First: The extent of corruption that has not stopped growing for decades, the absolute value of which might have decreased over the last few years, but its relative value, that is how much of the GDP it plunders, has definitely increased.

Second: The continued division of the country, and the slowing down and even paralysis and complete stop of the economic wheel, in light of the disruption of the political solution.

Third: Western sanctions and blockage, which feed the interest of the influential elites who refuse to turn these sanctions into an opportunity for the country’s economic independence from the predatory unequal exchange relations with the West.

Fourth: The adopted economic and financial policies, which have in common “liberalization” in its worst and most plundering forms, including “backdoor” privatization, that is, by seizing the fixed assets of the public sector. This is in addition to continuing the process of lifting subsidies, which is near its conclusion, with which the state will end any subsidy of any kind. Added to that is, of course, linking the Syrian pound to the globally-retreating dollar; or tangibly, dollarizing the Syrian economy and market, which allows the elites to accumulate more plundering through the Syrian pound and towards the dollar, and to the accounts abroad, on a weekly and possibly bi-weekly basis.

The wage policy followed in Syria is part of an integrated basket, in which there is nothing spontaneous or “innocent mistakes”; rather, the whole thing is intentional and serves the following main goals:
First: It is an additional plundering process from the wage earners for the benefit of profit earners, especially illegal ones. However, this is not the ultimate goal of these policies.

Second: These policies practically aim to perpetuating the partition and the process of pushing the Syrian people out of their country.

Third: At minimum, these policies serve in exhausting Syrian society to the maximum limits, so that it cannot rise to demand anything, neither politically nor economically.

Each additional passing day for Syrians living in their continued catastrophe proves that there is no economic way out of the economic crisis, but rather a political way out through a political solution based on UNSC Resolution 2254, and nothing else. This is because reunifying the country and restoring its dignity and ability to produce and live, necessarily passes through forming the political will needed for that. This will does not exist among the extremist elites of the Syrian sides, but rather among the plundered Syrian people themselves. The political solution, with the support of the Astana group, China, and the main Arab countries, and against the American-Zionist will, is the main entry point towards crystalizing that will and turning it into a tangible reality.

(النسخة العربية)