Syria

Country Data

Syria is a country of 185,000 km2 located on and inland from the eastern Mediterranean.  The country is generally characterized by an arid climate giving rise to desert and semi-desert that covers the great majority of the country.  The northwestern part of the country, however, experiences a cool and wet period during the winter months. 

Syria has a population of almost 17 million people million people (2002), growing at 2.5 percent per year.  The population is concentrated in Damascus and the region to its north.  Fifty two percent of the population is classed as "urban" and the remainder as "rural"; the majority of the country is uninhabited or sparsely inhabited.

Per capita gross national income is $US 1,000; GDP grew by 3.5 percent in 2001.  Services contribute about 46 percent of GDP; industrial contributions provide about 30 percent of GDP with agriculture contributing about 24 percent.

The  Ministry of Local Administration is the dominant institution regarding SWM at the national level, by virtue of the Law on Local Administration which assigns waste collection and waste disposal responsibilities to municipalities.  A Law on the Environment, passed in 2002, provides the Ministry of State for Environment with significant potential SWM roles, but implementing instructions under the law are required for action to be taken at that level.  SWM plans have been developed for several cities over the past few years; the Ministry of Local Administration has responded to recommended actions through creation of solid waste management directorates at the local level with broader mandates than the previous cleansing departments..  National policy or strategy, however, has not been developed.  Inadequate cost recovery mechanisms limit the extent to which new waste management investments are affordable, however, although new initiatives such as charging user fees at waste disposal sites are now being considered and adopted; compost has been sold for several years in Damascus.  Currently, financing of equipment and infrastructure relies primarily on international grants.  Private participation in the sector is well established; the private sector undertakes waste collection, transfer, haulage and/or waste disposal site operation in Damascus, Homs and Allepo under municipal contract, and also participates in smaller towns.  Satisfaction with private sector performance is reportedly good.  Public awareness of waste management issues is low.

The following have been identified as key needs to support the development of the sector in Syria: (i) strengthen policy and legal framework); (ii) development of solid waste management strategies for Hama and Dar'a ; (iii) investment in SWM sector (iv) capacity development.

For more details please consult the attached country report [...]