EASO COI Report Syria Socio-Economic Situation Damascus
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Syria Socio-economic situation: Damascus city Country of Origin Information Report April 2021 More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu) PDF ISBN: 978-92-9465-083-2 doi: 10.2847/957835 BZ--09-21-115-EN-N © European Asylum Support Office, 2021 Cover photo: © gertvansanten via iStock by Getty Images, 10 May 2010, 502837234, url. Shopping people at the entrance of the Big Bazaar in Damascus, Syria. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the EASO copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders. Country of origin information report | Syria - Socio-economic situation: Damascus city Acknowledgements This report was drafted by the European Asylum Support Office COI Sector. Additionally, the Country of Origin Information Department of the Austrian Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum provided research contributions during the drafting phase of this report by sharing with EASO the English translation of its COI Syria Country Report.1 The following departments and organisations have reviewed the report: Austria, Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum, Country of Origin Information Department France, Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA), Information, Documentation and Research Division The Netherlands, Afdeling Ambtsberichten, Ministry of Foreign Affairs It must be noted that the review carried out by the mentioned departments, experts or organisations contributes to the overall quality of the report, but does not necessarily imply their formal endorsement of the final report, which is the full responsibility of EASO. 1 Austria, BFA Staatendokumentation [Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum – COI Unit], Country Report on Syria [Updated 22.01.2021], Available from BFA Staatendokumentation 3 Country of origin information report | Syria - Socio-economic situation: Damascus city Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 3 Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Disclaimer................................................................................................................................................ 6 Glossary and abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Methodology ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Quality control .................................................................................................................................... 8 Sources ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Structure and use of the report .......................................................................................................... 9 Map ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 1. City overview ..................................................................................................................................... 11 1.1 Demographics and ethno-religious composition ....................................................................... 11 1.2 National context: humanitarian situation and assistance .......................................................... 12 1.3 Displacement and return ............................................................................................................ 17 1.4 Situation of Covid-19 .................................................................................................................. 21 2. Internal mobility ................................................................................................................................ 23 2.1 Airports and flight connections .................................................................................................. 23 2.2 Freedom of movement ............................................................................................................... 24 2.2.1 Return to Syria ..................................................................................................................... 25 2.3 Travel by road and through checkpoints in Damascus ........................................................... 27 2.3.1 Number and location of checkpoints .................................................................................. 27 2.3.2 Procedures at checkpoints .................................................................................................. 28 2.3.3 Treatment at checkpoints ................................................................................................... 28 2.3.4 Factors influencing scrutiny at checkpoints ........................................................................ 30 2.3.5 Damascus International Airport and Damascus-Beirut roads ............................................. 31 2.3.6 Neighbourhoods of Damascus with limited access ............................................................. 31 2.3.7 Settling in Damascus ........................................................................................................... 33 2.4 Civil documentation .................................................................................................................... 35 3. Key socio-economic indicators ......................................................................................................... 38 3.1 Economic overview ..................................................................................................................... 38 3.1.1 Economic situation .............................................................................................................. 38 4 Country of origin information report | Syria - Socio-economic situation: Damascus city 3.1.2 Impact of economic sanctions............................................................................................. 38 3.1.3 Impact of COVID-19 ............................................................................................................. 39 3.2 Employment ............................................................................................................................... 39 3.2.1 Employment and unemployment ....................................................................................... 39 3.2.2 Means of basic subsistence ................................................................................................. 40 3.3 Poverty ........................................................................................................................................ 41 3.4 Food security .............................................................................................................................. 42 3.4.1 Availability of food .............................................................................................................. 42 3.4.2 Food security levels ............................................................................................................. 43 3.5 Housing, water and sanitation .................................................................................................... 44 3.5.1 Availability of housing ......................................................................................................... 44 3.5.2 Reconstruction projects ...................................................................................................... 45 3.5.3 Legal issues affecting the housing situation ........................................................................ 46 3.5.4 Availability of water and sanitation .................................................................................... 47 3.6 Health care .................................................................................................................................. 47 3.6.1 Availability and access to treatment and medicines ........................................................... 47 3.6.2 Healthcare facilities capacity and quality ............................................................................ 48 3.6.3 Impact of COVID-19 ............................................................................................................. 49 3.7 Education .................................................................................................................................... 51 3.7.1 Legal background ................................................................................................................ 51 3.7.2 Availability of education ...................................................................................................... 51 3.7.3 Access to education............................................................................................................. 52 Annex I: Bibliography ...........................................................................................................................