DAMASCUS – Syrian Transport Minister, Ali Hammoud, said damage caused by terrorists to transport sector, during the war was, estimated at around $4.5 billion, without taking into account the territories that the government forces are yet to liberate.
“The ministry assessed the damage inflicted in the areas that have been liberated so far.
“The amount of damage exceeded $4.5 billion, equivalent to 200 thousand billion Syrian pounds.
“And this is the damage inflicted on the transport sector only,’’ the minister said.
Hammoud noted that the amount involved would only grow when the government regains control over the remaining territories such as the Idlib de-escalation zone and areas in the north of the country on the Syria-Turkey border.
As Damascus won back vast territories that had fallen into the hands of terrorists and rebels during the war, the armed conflict itself seems to be nearing its end.
Syria had already launched the reconstruction process and the repatriation of refugees.
Russia has been assisting Syria throughout the war, providing military and humanitarian aid as well as brokering ceasefire agreements.
In March 2011, Syria’s government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, faced an unprecedented challenge to its authority when pro-democracy protests erupted throughout the country.
Protesters demanded an end to the authoritarian practices of the Assad regime, in place since Assad’s father, Ḥafiz al-Assad, became president in 1971.
The Syrian government used violence to suppress demonstrations, making extensive use of police, military and paramilitary forces.
Opposition militias began to form in 2011 and by 2012 the conflict had expanded into a full-fledged civil war.
