1. Challenges for a Changing Middle East

2. Jordan -250,000 Syrian Refugees - Approx.100,000 undocumented -Zaatari Camp -Population of 50,000 -Access to education, health care and other social welfare programs - Cost to maintain Refugee population in 2012: 600 Million; Estimated to reach 800 million in 2013 -Current Unemployment Rate in Jordan: 14% Source: BBC

3. Lebanon Source: UNHCR - No permanent camps -Only temporary settlements (Bekaa Valley) -212,000 Syrian Refugees -Est. 500,000 by the end of 2013 -Placing a burden on the economy as well as exacerbating security concerns - Projected $ 300 million deficit in Lebanon’s 2013 budget - Sectarian balance desrupted - My experiences working and living in Beirut, Lebanon.

5. Syria Source: TIME -Rising inflation - The Syrian Pound now stands at 70 SYP to 1 USD - Rise in prices of basic amenities: food, cooking oil, gas, etc. -Infrastructure in ruins -Power Outages - Gas Pipelines, Power Stations have been attacked - Syria’s strategic location offers Mediterranean access to neighboring landlocked nations in search of markets for exporting their hydrocarbon products (i.e. Iraq)