Enlarge this image Hungry Palestinians rush to a food distribution kitchen in Gaza last week. Moiz Salhi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty hide caption toggle caption Moiz Salhi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Hungry Palestinians rush to a food distribution kitchen in Gaza last week. Moiz Salhi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Nearly half a million people in
Syria is in a precarious place as it emerges from civil war and a long dictatorship. The recently announced removal of U.S. sanctions bring hopes that the economy might stabilize. Another challenge is Syria's population— it is one of the most diverse countries in the Middle East and with that comes competing demands and priorities