Syria Launches a National Program to Combat Poverty Within a Comprehensive Strategy

The Syrian Minister of Finance, Mohammad Yasser Barnieh, announced today, Monday, the imminent launch of a national program to combat poverty, as part of a comprehensive strategy being developed by the ministry in cooperation with government agencies and international organizations, emphasizing that fighting poverty represents the true entry point to achieving political, social, and economic stability in the country.

The announcement came during a dialogue session at the Ministry of Finance's pavilion within the activities of the 62nd Damascus International Fair, where the minister stressed that the new strategy aims to address the root causes of poverty fundamentally, amid estimates indicating that its rate in Syria ranges between 70% and 90%.

Barnieh pointed out that the program features "clear objectives and executable tools," affirming the availability of the necessary capabilities to achieve an ambitious vision: "No beggar on the street, no orphan without care, and no poor family without support."

He explained that combating poverty is a fundamental condition for encouraging investment and achieving growth, pointing to intensive government efforts over the past months to build this strategy in partnership with international institutions, with full support from the state.

Regarding funding, the minister revealed a plan to exempt some businessmen from accumulated taxes in exchange for providing effective community contributions, in addition to reforming the systems of zakat and endowment to invest their resources in supporting needy groups.

The first phase of the strategy focuses on accurately identifying poor groups, followed by programs that help beneficiaries transition from need to production, through supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, training the poor for work, and improving health insurance and salaries.

For his part, the Minister of Higher Education, Marwan Al-Halabi, emphasized the importance of investing in human capital and combating corruption, pointing to a widespread migration of academics from Aleppo and Damascus due to the practices of the fallen regime.

Minister of Education, Mohammad Abdul Rahman Turko, confirmed that education is the primary gateway to fighting poverty, while Minister of Transport, Yarab Badr, highlighted the importance of partnership with the private sector in implementing infrastructure projects that provide job opportunities without burdening the state with additional financial burdens.

Dr. Nader Qabbani from the Middle East Council for International Affairs reviewed the magnitude of social and economic challenges, confirming that poverty rates have reached 90%, and extreme poverty to 66%, calling for the adoption of comprehensive social protection policies.

The national strategy is based on an ambitious vision that requires the integration of roles between the state, the private sector, and the local and international community, aiming to overcome the effects of the fallen regime by liberating assets, improving job opportunities, and expanding social protection.