Syrians claim sanctions have cost them £2.5bn

Syria’s oil minister has blamed international sanctions for shortages of cooking gas and other basic goods, saying the measures have bled £2.5 billion from the nation’s ailing economy.

Sufian Allaw said the punitive measures were to blame for the shortages that have left Syrians queuing up to pay inflated prices for cooking gas, fuel, sugar and other staples.

Before the 14-month-long uprising against Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011, oil exports, mainly to Europe, were worth around £5bn a day, with the regime sitting on more than £10bn in foreign reserves.

Yesterday in Damascus Mr Allaw said prices for cooking gas had spiralled and to plug the gap the regime was seeking imports from sources not affected by sanctions. A Venezuelan tanker carrying 35,000 tons of fuel docked in Syria yesterday.