After 14 years of devastating conflict, Rouhi Afaghani, the Deputy Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Syria, has called for the swift reconstruction of the war-torn nation. He emphasized that rebuilding Syria is not only crucial for its people but also vital for the stability of the entire Middle East.
In a recent interview with AFP during his visit to Geneva, Afaghani said, “The international community must act decisively and immediately to help rebuild Syria. Assisting the country’s recovery from war and ruins is essential for regional peace and prosperity.”
The civil war, which began in 2011 following the Assad regime’s violent crackdown on protests, has claimed more than 500,000 lives and left much of the country’s infrastructure in ruins. Although a new Islamist-led administration has taken power after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, it now faces the daunting challenge of reconstruction and rehabilitation.
According to a World Bank report, post-war reconstruction in Syria will require an estimated $216 billion. While Afaghani did not cite a specific figure, he described the need as “immensely large.”
He added that several local governors had informed him of the country’s severe shortages in housing, schools, healthcare facilities, electricity, and clean water. Additionally, the widespread presence of unexploded ordnance across Syria poses a significant obstacle to reconstruction efforts.
Source: Arab News.