Challenges for a Changing Middle East

Jordan

-250,000 Syrian Refugees- Approx.100,000

undocumented-Zaatari Camp

- Population of 50,000- Access to education,

health care and other social welfare programs

- Cost to maintain Refugee population in 2012: 600 Million; Estimated to reach 800 million in 2013-Current Unemployment Rate in Jordan: 14%

Source: BBC

Lebanon

Source: UNHCR

- No permanent camps- Only temporary settlements

(Bekaa Valley)-212,000 Syrian Refugees

- Est. 500,000 by the end of 2013

- Placing a burden on the economy as well as exacerbating security concerns

- Projected $ 300 million deficit in Lebanon’s 2013 budget- Sectarian balance desrupted- My experiences working and living in Beirut, Lebanon.

Syria

Source: TIME

-Rising inflation - The Syrian Pound now

stands at 70 SYP to 1 USD

- Rise in prices of basic amenities: food, cooking oil, gas, etc.-Infrastructure in ruins

- Power Outages- Gas Pipelines, Power

Stations have been attacked

- Syria’s strategic location offers Mediterranean access to neighboring landlocked nations in search of markets for exporting their hydrocarbon products (i.e. Iraq)