Syria's recent budget approval created a firestorm of criticism, questioning the government's ability to handle the economic crisis. The government claims it is proceeding with its decisions to reduce the deficit, which reached unprecedented levels this year. The initial allocations for the 2024 draft general budget amounted to SYP35,500 billion, divided into SYP26,500 billion for current spending and SYP9,000 billion for investments. The total deficit amounted to SYP9,404 billion.