International Sanctions Cost Syria $4 Billion

Sufian Allaw

Sufian Allaw, the oil minister of Syria blamed the international sanctions for the shortages of cooking gas and other basic goods. These saving measures have cost the nation’s ailing economy a total of $4 million.

President Bashar al-Assad must now make a delicate balance toward the United States and the European Union sanctions. Meanwhile Sufian Allaw said the punitive measures are the responsible for leaving the Syrians across the country making long lines to pay inflated prices for cooking gas, fuel, sugar and other goods.

Before the 15-month uprising, the oil sector was a pillar of Syria’s economy after exporting, mostly to Europe, large quantities of the crude which gave the country around $7 million to $8 million per day.

Allaw stated that the officials are seeking to arrange further gas imports from Algeria and Iran. (AV)