World Bank: Syria earthquake damage rises to $5.1 billion – Reuters

The current value of damaged and destroyed buildings and infrastructure is estimated at around 10% of Syria’s gross domestic product, the bank said in a statement, citing Reuters . The damaged buildings include cultural heritage sites in historic areas of Syria, according to the report.
“These losses are exacerbated by years of destruction, suffering and deprivation that the Syrian people have endured in recent years,” said Jean-Christophe Carré, World Bank Regional Director for the Middle East. Experts say the disaster will lead to a drop in economic activity, which will further affect Syria’s growth prospects.According to the bank, the province of Aleppo suffered about 45% of the total damage caused by the earthquake in the country. About 37% of the damage occurs in the province of Idlib and 11% in the coastal province of Latakia. Meanwhile, estimates of total direct damage range from $2.7 billion to $7.9 billion, the bank said. Furthermore, the World Bank estimate does not cover the broader economic impacts and losses on the Syrian economy.The February 6 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria killed at least 45,000 people. According to the authorities, the death toll in Syria exceeds 5,900 people.