Economist Podcasts In Syria’s trouble: an embattled despot digs in
Oct 2, 2020
Nicholas Pelham, The Economist’s Middle East correspondent, discusses the bleak humanitarian crisis in Syria under Bashar al-Assad, highlighting the regime's surprising resilience amid economic collapse and COVID-19. Tom Nuttall, the Berlin bureau chief, reflects on Germany's political evolution post-reunification, emphasizing its growing influence in Europe and the complexities of its foreign policy. They also touch upon the cultural legacy of Agatha Christie's iconic detective, Hercule Poirot, celebrating the character's enduring charm in modern storytelling.
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Syria's Dire Situation
- Women boil weeds to feed their children due to economic desperation and widespread hunger.
- People are using Syrian currency notes, rendered worthless by inflation, to roll cigarettes.
Hindered Recovery
- Despite a decrease in fighting, the Syrian regime hasn't achieved economic recovery.
- Factors include Turkish and Kurdish control of territories, the Lebanese banking crisis, US sanctions, and COVID-19.
COVID-19's Underreported Impact
- The official COVID-19 death toll in Syria is under 200, but this is widely disbelieved.
- Doctors are reportedly pressured to list pneumonia as the cause of death, masking the true impact.
