Problems and Challenges in the Middle East

Middle East- SyriaGeography, Culture and Social SituationsSyria is located in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is situated between Lebanon and Turkey.

Syria mostly has dessert plateaus and a narrow coastal plain, since it is bordering the sea. There are also mountains situated at the west.Capital of Syria: Damascus.The demonym for Syria: Syrian(s).Syrias President: Bashar Al-Assad

The approximate population of Syria is 22,530,746 Official languages: Arabic, Kurdish and Armenian.Major Ethnic Groups: Arab 90.3%Kurds+Armenians+others 9.7% Sunni Muslim=74% Christian=10% Other Muslim=16%

Sometimes there tends to be segregation between landlords and tenants, urban dwellers and rural peasants and also between the Sunni and minority groups.Literacy rate of total population: 79.6%Climate: Mostly dessert; hot, dry and very sunny summers (June to August), Mild, rainy winters (December to February) Average life span: Male - 72.53 years, Female 77.45 years, Total 72.94 years

Syrian Flag

Politics and GovernmentForm of government: Republic under an authoritarian regimePrime Minister Wael al-HALQUI is the current head of state in Syria. Assad is currently ruling the government, but the country doesnt want him to. They want to overthrow him, so they are basically going through a revolution. National Symbol: Hawk

Current ruling parties: Syrian-Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), Arab Socialist Baath Party,, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party; Syrian Arab Socialist Union or ASU, Syrian Communist Party (two branches); Syrian Social Nationalist Party; Unionist Socialist Party etc. There is no monarchy in Syria; the Arab Socialist Baath party is currently the ruling party.

EconomyUnemployment rate: 13.1% = male, 49.1% = female, Total = 12.3%Natural Resources: Petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron, ore, rock, salt, marble, gypsum and hydropower.Main exports: Crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, textiles and clothing.Main imports: Machinery and transport equipment, food and livestock.

GNP per capita: 2,750$Agricultural products :

EnvironmentEnergy consumption:1.Electricity -> 28.99 billion kWh2.Oil ->292,000 bbl/day3.Natural gas -> 7.1 billion cu m

DefenseThe Army, Navy and Air force are the members of the defense in Syria.Foreign suppliers: Russia, Belarus, Iran, China and North Korea.Iran, Persia, Russia, China = Syrias AlliesIsrael, Lebanon= Syrias enemy

Contains 400,000 troops.Syria is currently in a civil war against Turkey, who was once an alley for Syria.Has a large arsenal of surface to surface missiles

InfluencesSyria joined the UN on the 24th October, 1945.Main opposition states of Syria: Turkey, Lebanon, IsraelMain Allies of Syria: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar

Syria is a member of many international organizations, such as, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Arab Common Market, Arab League etc.

Problems and Challenges of SyriaLike every other country, Syria also faces many problems and Challenges.These problems and Challenges are divided in to 4 categories.They are: 1. Environmental problems 2. Political problems 3. Social problems 4. Economic problemsEnvironmental problemsMajor environmental issues in Syria include deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, desertification, water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage and wastes from petroleum refining and inadequate supplies of portable water.

Social problemsSyrian society is also stratified along tense social and economic class divisions. The class structure is characterized by a high degree of misdistribution of wealth, meaning that much of the wealth is concentrated in the hands of the few, while large numbers of people live in poverty.

Economic problemsFirstly, successive seasons of drought have led to a 25% decline in the agricultural sector's output. Secondly, the importance of oil revenues as a share of GDP is declining, as are the rents redistributed by the state.

Political problemsNot every person in Syria wants President Assad to be ruling their country. There have been protesters and rebels against this issue. And many violence's have happened.Protesters

By: Anagha Suresh