Syrian civil war
In the 1990s and 2000s, Syria's economy was in crisis because, among other economic failures, oil revenue and support from other Arab countries shrunk over the years. As a result, the working classes were impoverished throughout the years, and inequality rates increased. Unemployment rates were high, especially among the youth. The drought took away the source of income for many agrarian Syrians. When villagers relocated to the big cities, they struggled to find employment, which fueled growing resentment. The nation struggled with high inequality and a corrupt governemnt since only the privileged families who were tied to the government profited from privatization. 1.5 million Syrians became internally displaced by drought on top of the 1.5 million Iraqi refugees. By 2010 20% of Syria's population was constituted by IDPs. The country experienced a 50% population increase from 2002 to 2010, which further increased the strain on its resources. This led to illegal settlements, overcrowding, and increase in crime. The government neglected these problems, which grew the people's frustration. Most importantly, Syrian citizens were fed up with the political oppression by Assad's regime.