CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-World Bank estimates Syria's three-year earthquake recovery needs at $7.9 bln

(Corrects first-year recovery estimate to $3.7 billion from $33.7 billion, in paragraph 6) By David Lawder WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - The World Bank on Monday said the February earthquakes are expected to have caused Syria's real GDP output to contract by 5.5% in 2023, with recovery and reconstruction needs estimated at $7.9 billion over three years. The World Bank said its Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment report estimates the earthquakes that hit northern and western Syria on Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 caused physical damage of $3.7 billion in the country, with another $1.5 billion in economic losses for a combined damage impact of $5.2 billion. The World Bank had previously projected a 3.2% contraction in Syria's 2023 economic output, due to continuing conflict, high grain and energy prices and shortages, along with water scarcity that is limiting crop output. The earthquakes will cause that GDP contraction to widen by another 2.3 percentage points to 5.5% for the year, exacerbating the effects of 12 years of conflict in Syria. "The additional contraction is primarily driven by the destruction of physical capital and disruptions in trade activity," the World Bank said in a statement. "Inflation is expected to increase substantially, primarily driven by the reduction in goods available, an increase in transport costs, and a rise in overall demand for reconstruction material." The World Bank estimates recovery and reconstruction needs across the six assessed regions at $7.9 billion, $3.7 billion of that in the first year. It estimates $4.2 billion will be needed over the two subsequent years. The bank said the agriculture sector registered the largest needs (27% of the total), followed by housing (18%), social protection (16 %) and transport (12%). (Reporting by David Lawder; Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Chris Reese and Bill Berkrot)

david.lawder.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))