Births in War-Torn Syria Decline to Half
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Births in Syria have decreased to half due to dire economic conditions and high costs, Marwan al-Halabi, head of the Syrian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Damascus University, said on Sunday.
He told Athr Press that people postpone having children considering the economic conditions. Moreover, the immigration of youth abroad has played a part in shrinking the birth numbers.
According to al-Halabi, the costs and expenses of pregnancy, giving birth, and having children are too expensive and contribute to the decreasing births, especially since the average employee cannot afford them.
The World Food Program (WFP)’s statistics show that three out of five Syrians are food insecure in light of the constant increase in food prices and the deteriorating economy throughout the country.
This occurred in the aftermath of unprecedentedly high prices following the devaluation of the Syrian pound against foreign currencies; consequently, the low value of government employees’ salaries paid in the Syrian pound.
Prior to 2010, the births rate in Syria reached 550 thousand births every year. However, the Syrian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology has not conducted any survey since the beginning of the war.
Currently, some families resort to family planning and avoid having more children, according to al-Halabi.