Qatar Finances Syrian Salaries with Monthly Financial Grant

Syria announced it has received a financial grant from Qatar worth $87 million, distributed over three months, subject to renewal to cover approximately 20% of government employee salaries, amid the country's stifling economic crisis and severe international sanctions.

Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yusr Barniyeh said that the Qatari government will provide a financial grant to the Syrian government to help cover part of the current salary bill for government employees.

In a statement published by the ministry on its official Facebook page, it explained that the grant amounts to $29 million per month for three months, subject to renewal.

The minister explained that the support will be allocated to cover the salaries of workers in the health, education, and social affairs sectors, in addition to non-military retirees.

The Syrian finance minister indicated that the Qatari grant will be allocated to paying a portion of the salaries of government employees exempted from US sanctions imposed on Syria. He praised the swift response of the US Treasury Department in facilitating the grant's disbursement, expressing his hope that this step will pave the way for further measures to contribute to easing sanctions and building confidence.

Barniyeh explained that the grant, which covers approximately 20% of the country's total wage bill, will be administered through the United Nations Development Programme to ensure transparency and smooth implementation.

Reuters reported that the United States had approved a Qatari initiative to finance the salaries of public sector employees in Syria, with the exception of those working in the Ministries of Defense and Interior. This move was described as important financial support for the Syrian authorities in their efforts to rebuild state institutions.

The Syrian economy faces profound challenges as a result of more than a decade of ongoing conflict and severe international sanctions, which have led to a sharp deterioration in living conditions. 

According to UN estimates, approximately 90% of the population lives below the poverty line and suffers from food insecurity.

Since 2018, the World Bank has classified Syria as a low-income country, with GDP collapsing by more than 50% between 2010 and 2020.