News reports confirm that Qatar’s $29 million dollar support for Syrian public sector salaries has been approved by the U.S.

Reuters, citing three sources with knowledge, reported on Thursday that the US has officially given the go-ahead and has removed sanctions on the agreement in order for Qatar to begin its $29 million support for Syria’s monthly wages to boost its public-sector.

Sources also told Reuters that the critical financial support was expected to start rolling out next month and is set to be distributed over three months. The financial backing can be extended.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the Syrian Minister of Finance Mohammad Barnieh said the grant would cover the salaries of over a million workers in the health, education, and social affairs sectors, as well as non-military retirees.

U.S. sanctions on Syria intensified after the 2011 civil war began, imposed due to the Assad regime’s human rights abuses, alleged support for terrorism, and suppression of civil uprisings.

Barnieh expressed his thanks to the US Treasury Department for its “quick response to facilitate the grant.”

The Syrian finance minister added that the initiative would be administered by the United Nations Development Program, which will cover around one-fifth of the current bill.

Last week, Qatar and Saudi Arabia announced their plans to settle Syria’s outstanding arrears to the World Bank Group, estimated at around $15 million.

Qatar stands as one of Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa’s biggest backers and was quick to support the nation following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.

It was also the first country to host a diplomatic mission for the Syrian opposition in its capital, Doha.

In March, Qatar stepped forward to alleviate Syria’s severe energy crisis through supplying 400 megawatts of electricity daily to the Deir Ali power plant through neighbouring Jordan.

Syria’s basic infrastructure has yet to recover from more than 13 years of civil war. Under his rule, sanctions crippled Syria’s state servants and their livelihoods.