In this EPLO Brown Bag Lunch discussion, Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank Director for the Mashreq region, and Harun Onder, lead author of the report, will present and discuss the World Bank’s findings on the economic and social impact of the war in Syria.

The report entitled ‘The Toll of War: Economic and Social Consequences of the Conflict in Syria’ focuses on four key areas for the period 2011 to early-2017: (i) damage to property and infrastructure, (ii) loss of lives and the movement of people, (iii) economic outcomes, and (iv) human development outcomes. As of early 2017, the conflict in Syria has damaged or destroyed about a third of the housing stock and about half of medical and education facilities, and led to significant economic losses including a cumulative GDP loss that is equivalent to four times the pre-conflict GDP of the country. The report sheds light on the mechanisms through which the conflict has affected economic outcomes and shows that the disruptions to the economic system have had a far more significant impact than physical damage.

Report materials

• Full report
• Press release – The Visible Impacts of the Syrian War May Only be the Tip of the Iceberg
• Key facts – The Toll of War: Economic and Social Impact Analysis (ESIA) of the Conflict in Syria

The presentation will be followed by a discussion with participants on the findings and policy implications.

Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch and EPLO will provide tea and coffee.