Yemen

Amid limited progress in the normalisation with Damascus, two recent meetings between Yemeni and Syrian officials seem to signal Yemen’s bid to bolster a rapprochement process stalled since Damascus’ return to the Arab League in May.

A high-ranking Hamas delegation recently visited Damascus in the latest instance of Arab rapprochement with Syria. 

A recently published report has uncovered the methods, routes, and channels used by state and non-state actors in Syria to loot and traffick antiquities.

Since the beginning of the year, hundreds of state employees across various sectors – from agriculture, water, and industry to education and healthcare – have resigned or submitted their resignations due to exorbitant transportation costs, meagre wages, and better opportunities in the private sector or abroad. Consequently, the government has taken several measures to tackle the problem of labour shortages in the country. 

Low water levels are straining Syria’s agricultural sector and forcing Syrians to face rising prices and water-borne diseases as the country endures a severe and long-term drought, according to various reports and statements.

The World Bank released on June 09 its first comprehensive report in years on the state of the Syrian economy. The report uses innovative remote-based data to measure some key indicators, such as nighttime lights and nighttime lights-based output estimates, shipping-position data, and population and conflict maps. Some of the findings raise questions, however, while the report lacks any political economy dimension. Unsurprisingly, the forecasts for the coming years are gloomy.