Syrians once again find themselves facing long queues at petrol stations as shortages of oil products in the country resume, bringing a few weeks of relative stability to an end. 

Syria’s three major industrial cities saw a jump in the value of newly licensed projects last year, although the number of jobs created and the number of projects beginning construction slowed down, according to official data.

The two state-owned Syrian companies producing alcoholic drinks reported a surge in volume sales and in revenues last year after an increase in prices failed to dampen demand.

The Syria Recovery Trust Fund (SRTF), an opposition-affiliated fund which finances projects outside government control, said it has received about EUR 19 million in new funding to support programmes in areas retaken from the Islamic State militant group.

The total positive cases of Covid-19 recorded across Syria rose to 41,521 over the past week, up from 40,369 last week. The government took no new containment measures, even as neighbouring Lebanon implemented a strict lockdown.