The Syria Report's coverage of our recently published study makes several inaccurate statements.

First: It's not useful to use the term "the official rate." All exchange rates—and there are many—are set by the Central Bank and are therefore official.

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Second: The "official exchange rate" stated in their coverage (434 SYP) for 2019 is irrelevant. In other words: No, the regime was not helping the UN. The relevant comparison should be with the rate in the black market. The UN knows that and negotiates accordingly.

Third: No, the UN is not required to use the "official exchange rate" as defined in the first paragraph, which currently stands at 1256.

Fourth: "The UN may be able to negotiate a better rate as they did in the past." We know that. We are calling for that. It's in the paper.

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Fifth: "Senior UN staff members, whose salaries represent a notable share in the total salary budget, receive their salaries in US dollars." Any evidence of the share?

At any rate, our estimates of donor money lost in the exchange are conservative, for reasons stated in the publication.