Qatar Will Provide Syria With Monthly Salary Payments
The United States has given the green light to a Qatari plan that will provide monthly payments to Syria’s public sector, offering a much-needed financial boost to a country battered by over a decade of war and economic collapse.
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$29 Million a Month for Civilian Salaries
According to three sources who spoke to Reuters, Qatar will send $29 million a month for at least three months to help Syria pay its civilian public-sector workers. The payments could be extended beyond that, depending on how things go.
U.S. Sanctions Exemption Clears the Way
Syria’s finance minister confirmed on Wednesday that the funds will be operated through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and have been granted a sanctions exemption by the U.S. Treasury Department. The payments are strictly limited to civilian workers, no funds will go to the interior or defence ministries.
A Shift in U.S. Policy Toward Syria
The move marks a shift in Washington’s stance. While Qatar has long been one of the strongest international supporters of Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Gulf nation was hesitant to act without U.S. approval, especially with American sanctions still in place from the Bashar al-Assad era.
Two people familiar with the matter said the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is expected to issue a formal letter confirming that the initiative is exempt from sanctions.
Read More: Qatar Airways Resumes Flights to Syria
A Lifeline for Syrian Public Workers
The support comes at a critical time. Syria’s state finances have been in tatters after 14 years of conflict and decades of corruption and mismanagement. Civil servants have been surviving on meagre wages, and the government has been struggling to implement a long-promised 400% salary increase.
A Syrian financial source said the monthly grant should begin arriving next month, allowing salaries to rise gradually for over a million workers.
Focus on Civilian Institutions Only
Western nations remain cautious about Syria’s new leadership, particularly its efforts to rebuild security forces. That’s why the funding is restricted to non-military sectors. Diplomats say this limitation is key to ensuring the funds support citizens, not the repressive structures of the past.
Qatar Steps Up With Washington's Blessing
For Qatar, the deal is an opportunity to play a leading role in Syria’s reconstruction while reinforcing its regional influence. With the backing of the U.S., this financial support could help ease pressure on Syria’s fragile economy, while signaling to other global powers that the West is willing to cautiously re-engage.