For single Syrian women, search for soulmate comes up empty

Some Syrians have creatively circumvented such obstacles with “Skype weddings”, where brides and grooms in different provinces or even countries authorise a third party to sign their marriage licenses as they exchange vows online.

Yusra, 31, said the fact that she has yet to wed makes her parents fret that she will “miss the marriage train”.

“I don’t want you to become a spinster,” her mother warns her repeatedly, advising her to “look around carefully to find a catch”.

But much like Nour, Yusra — who works as a government translator — finds herself surrounded by women or by male colleagues that she considers too old to be compatible.

“Everyone knows a huge section of Syria’s youth has paid the biggest price for what’s happening,” the tall, slender woman told AFP.

“Some emigrated. Some are fighting. Financial considerations prevent others from even thinking about getting married — not to mention, of course, those who died over the past seven years,” Yusra said sadly.

On top of all that, she said the war has “widened the sectarian rift in society”, making people from different religious backgrounds less likely to get hitched.

– Mission impossible: marriage –

The war has also led to skyrocketing inflation, widespread unemployment, and economic losses estimated at more than $225 billion — making 37-year-old Firas balk at the thought of a wedding.

“Rising living costs and other financial factors make getting married like mission impossible,” said Firas, who works in a washing machine repair shop in the Damascus neighbourhood of Bab Touma.

Mortar rounds fired by rebels entrenched outside the capital have landed near his shop, endangering his life and those of this customers.

“I can’t make plans or imagine my future. I’m living day by day — God knows if I’ll be alive tomorrow,” said Firas, who keeps a pencil tucked behind his ear even when he is not in the shop.

“Anyone that gets married in these circumstances is crazy. I can’t guarantee a safe and dignified life for myself, so how I could I guarantee one for my wife and children?”

In a nearby district, medical student Munzer Kallas hangs a massive calendar on his bedroom wall, with key dates circled in red.

They mark upcoming application deadlines for scholarships to pursue his studies abroad.

“I don’t think about marriage at all. Marriage needs stability, and I decided to follow my brother to Germany,” said Kallas, 26.

“I’m better off looking for a plane ticket than a wife.”