World · 2 February 2026
Syria's sole female minister confronts 90% poverty, $200B reconstruction.
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Georges Boulougouris via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Hind Kabawat, the sole female minister in President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s transitional government, vows she is "not here for window dressing" while navigating Syria’s post-Assad recovery. Appointed after rebel forces seized Damascus on December 8, 2024, Kabawat manages the Social Affairs and Labour portfolio amidst sectarian violence and a 90 percent poverty rate. With the World Bank estimating reconstruction costs at $200 billion, she prioritizes aid for widows, orphans, and millions displaced during the 14-year civil war.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs