Syrian

The Director of the Economic Development and Globalization Division at UN-ESCWA, Dr. Abdullah Dardari, confirmed during a media seminar that was held last week at the UN House, that the influx of Syrian labor into Lebanon has raised unemployment particularly amongst unskilled young laborers, a category which is usually the main victim of unemployment. Nevertheless, this phenomenon also triggered an increase in the average growth rate since it provided local entrepreneurs with cheap labor.  
Dardari, who was speaking during an event was convened by ESCWA to discuss “World Economic Situation and Prospects 2014”, predicted an increase in the GNP from 1.3% in 2013 to 2.4% in 2014, and from 3.2% in 2013 to 3.9% in 2014 in Jordan, stating that these figures need to be considered with caution in view of the side-effects caused by a 25% increase in residents in Lebanon and 15% in Jordan. As for the overall economic and development situation in the region, Dardari concluded that the geo-political stress related to the Syrian situation, will continue to negatively impact the neighboring countries.
Within the same vein, the Minister of Economy and Trade, Nicolas Nahhas, highlighted during the meeting the inability of Lebanon to absorb the influx of labor as Lebanon can only creates 3000 jobs a year whereas 25000 are needed in normal situations.
For her part, Sandra Sino of ESCWA highlighted in more details the negative impact of the Syrian crisis on the GDP and GDP per capita of Lebanon while exacerbating the social, educational, employment and health difficulties, and resulting in an increase in the rent levels for small apartments and in the cost of land transport which affected both exports and imports. She also pointed out to the steep decrease in the numbers of tourists, and revealed that some USD 11 billion of Syrian funds entered Lebanon, but only a mere USD 1 billion was effectively employed in the Lebanese economy.  She called on the government to put in place the appropriate economic policies to avoid disasters, raising serious alarms about the capacity of the country to absorb the increasing number of displaced and expecting unemployment to reach 24% in 2014.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 25 January 2014

An Nahar newspaper published an article yesterday covering the launch of the campaign seeking to regularize Syrian businesses in the Bekaa.  The report included highlights of the situation of Syrian businesses as well as testimonials of Syrian holders who shared their dismay with the decision calling for the closure of their businesses and livelihoods.  The report highlights confusion with dates since the memorandum in force at the Shtoura police centre calls for an immediate closure of businesses opened by Syrians since the start of the Syrian crisis because they have entered the country as displaced while giving all other Syrian businesses until the end of August to regularize their situation.  However, and according to a number of Syrians, the implementation of the memorandum was rather chaotic and according to the way it was understood by the law enforcers.  In many cases, businesses enjoying the exact same situation were given different notices and treatments.
The report also shows that troupes pertaining to the economy directorate are strolling the streets and alleys of villages and towns in the Bekaa to document and register all Syrian businesses in a desperate attempt to list all these businesses, as many Lebanese are, according to the report, providing false information.
On a related vein, the Lebanese government has started implementing new and tougher security measures on the border crossings including Masnaa, Aboudieh, and Arida, and which entail thorough verifications of IDs of incoming Syrians, so as to limit the infiltration of terrorist groups and others who are antagonistic to the Lebanese army and security forces.  In addition, entry to Lebanon is now limited to those carrying valid IDs or passports as well as affidavits indicating whether the person is a displaced or a worker in a Lebanese enterprise.
Furthermore, was formally confirmed that the Lebanese authorities have extended the deadline for regularizing the legal situation of Syrian businesses until August 31st instead of the 15th in order to allow business holders to secure needed registrations.
Source: Al-Nahar 31 July 2013