The war began in 2011 after mass protests against the then president Bashar al-Assad. The demonstrations were met with violence and escalated into an armed conflict. al-Assad was overthrown in December after a rapid rebel offensive.
Large parts of the country and its infrastructure, especially the power grid, have been destroyed. According to the World Bank, the reconstruction is estimated to cost up to two billion kronor.
Repairs to infrastructure are expected to require approximately 772 billion kronor, housing 706 billion and other buildings 555 billion. The largest investments are needed in Aleppo and in the countryside around Damascus.
"The challenges are enormous, but the World Bank is ready to support the Syrian people in the reconstruction," explains Jean-Christophe Carret, regional director for the Middle East.
Despite new diplomatic contacts with the West and investment agreements with countries in the region, Syria is still struggling economically. The UN estimates that 90 percent of the population lives in poverty.
