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Saudi Arabia and Qatar had announced plans last month to clear
Syria’s outstanding debts, a move that Syria hailed as paving
the way for recovery and reconstruction after a 14-year conflict
that killed half a million people and caused wide destruction in
the country.
The debt was owed to the World Bank’s International Development
Association, a fund that provides zero- or low-interest loans
and grants to the world’s poorest countries.
“We are pleased that the clearance of Syria’s arrears will allow
the World Bank Group to reengage with the country and address
the development needs of the Syrian people,” the World Bank said
in a statement.
In added that “the first project in our reengagement with Syria
is centered on access to electricity.”
Months after a lightning insurgency unseated former Syrian
President Bashar Assad and ended the civil war that decimated
much of the country’s infrastructure, severe electricity
shortages continue to plague the country.
The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syrians live in poverty
and state-supplied electricity comes as little as two hours
every day. Millions of Syrians cannot afford to pay hefty fees
for private generator services or install solar panels to
supplement the meagre supply.
In March, Qatar began supplying Syria with natural gas through
Jordan to ease the long hours of electricity cuts.
However, Western sanctions imposed on the country during the
Assad dynasty’s rule have posed an obstacle to development and
reconstruction projects.
Earlier this week, during a regional tour during which he met
with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, U.S.
President Donald Trump said he would move to lift the sanctions,
clearing the way for investments in Syria.
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