Damascus, Syria: Syrian President Bashar Assad issued a week’s decree that gave hundreds of thousands of civil servants and military members increased by 50% of the economic crisis and harsh prices for vital products.
Assad’s decision came a day after the state doubled the price of bread, the main principal of the country, and increased by 180% of diesel fuel prices.
The Syrian economy has been hit by a decade of war, Western sanctions, widespread corruption and recently the severe economic and financial crisis in neighboring Lebanon.
The last salary increase was announced in November 2019.
The decision released by the Assad office placed a minimum monthly income at 71,515 Pound Syria ($ 22).
This also granted military and civil pension holders increased by 40% in retirement pensions.
The US dollar traded around 3,200 pounds in the black market while the official rate was 2,500 pounds.
Nearly 80% of Syrians live in poverty, and 60% are unsafe food – the worst food security situation ever seen in Syria, according to the United Nations.