I visited Syria in September 2007. The streets of Damascus were improbably full at all hours, finding a taxi was as difficult as hailing one in Manhattan, and budget hotels were booked. In 8 days, I stayed in 4 different hotels.
Why?
Iraqi refugees.
Syria hosts the largest number of Iraqi refugees of any country. Up to 1.5 million, and the country is feeling the squeeze.
The influx in such a short amount of time has driven up food, gas and real estate prices. People say that there is not enough food being grown to feed everyone in the country. Electricity and water supplies are taxed.
I visited one Syrian family, and they did not have running water. It is turned off every evening until morning, the government’s attempt at dealing with shortages.
While Syria is hosting nearly one and a half million refugees, the United States has promised to host 12,000 by the end of next year. Refugee groups are highly critical:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hysZ8Us4hibA1Euv6zKbNotfRHPg
