The Cost of the Syrian War on Housing

Arab-Kurdish Fighters with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have taken the last urban stronghold of the Islamic State in Syria. The ground offensive aided by US-led airstrikes lasted about four months. According to data compiled by the World Bank, the fighting in Syria has damaged and destroyed some 26.3 percent of housing units overall.

In Syria's second largest city, Aleppo, the toll on infrastructure is highest with more than 150,000 units damaged and close to 50,000 units destroyed. In Raqqa, close to 10,000 houses were either damaged or destroyed. However, the World Bank report was published in July, before fighting came to close there, so the destruction today will necessarily be more extensive.