The nation Battles Worst Dry Spell in Decades, Pushing Millions To the Verge

Dried riverbed in Syria's north
Sheep wander the dried-out bed of the waterway in the region

Outside a rural area by Hama, farmland ought to be ripe and productive with crops.

Instead, Maher Haddad's fields lies unproductive, yielding only a portion of its usual harvest.

"This year proved disastrous due to the lack of rain," stated the middle-aged cultivator.

The acres yielded merely 190kg per dunum—significantly less than the expected quantity achieved in a average period.

"{We lost what we put in; we've lost money. I can't fund next year's planting," he continued.

Having a pair of teenage daughters to support, now he's relying on funds from kin to get by.

National Emergency

The hardship is repeated around Syria, where the worst rain shortage in 36 years has slashed agricultural output by nearly half.

A projected gap of over two and a half million tonnes is expected this year—equivalent to the yearly dietary needs of millions of individuals.

Farmer in Syria
An agricultural worker shared how the drought harmed his harvest

Rising Food Insecurity

Lacking additional food aid or the ability to bring in supplies, the condition may intensify significantly.

More than millions of residents—nearly the majority of the public—already find it hard to eat enough.

Among them, millions experience severe malnutrition, with a significant number in dire situations.

Precipitation has dropped by about seventy percent, devastating 75% of non-irrigated agricultural land.

"This is the distinction between households being able to stay in their homes or being forced to migrate," noted an official.

Everyday Struggles

Agricultural households are offloading herds to make up for reduced earnings, cutting back their food intake.

Undernourishment levels among young ones and women are increasing.

Wheat is a staple crop in Syria, essential for loaves and noodles—low-cost foods that are now increasing in cost.

In the case of a mother aged thirty-nine, buying staples has become increasingly hard.

With several kids, she counts on her older sons' salaries, which fall short of daily costs.

"Sometimes we need to get funds simply to buy bread," she said.

Previously, a package of flatbread cost 500 local currency, but now it is 4,500.

For her family, she needs multiple bags a day—a cost of nine thousand pounds, excluding other food.

Wheat delivery
The country is increasingly sourcing wheat shipments from abroad

National and Foreign Actions

The situation creates a major obstacle for the leadership, which is working to restore the nation after years of war.

Aid organizations are providing bread subsidies for those most vulnerable, but representatives warn that these are stopgap fixes.

"The goal is to enable agricultural workers in the farming sector," stated a official.

Monetary payments have been distributed to local growers who experienced the whole crops.

However, after over a decade of war, Syria's agrarian sector was already impacted by financial collapse, destroyed water systems, and contaminated fields.

Water Shortage

In critical farming areas, crop land require numerous watering rounds per growing period, but because of absence of precipitation, the majority of farmers find it impossible to sustain.

"The farmer's first worry is securing water," stated a regional official.

Water requires diesel, and expenses have risen sharply, costing 11,000 to twelve thousand currency per unit.

High fuel costs and regular interruptions have left equipment unaffordable for many farmers.

Future Measures

One priority for the authorities is investing in water systems—like eco-friendly drip systems—to make resources more affordable.

But such projects need years and funding—options that wheat farmers lack right now.

So, for millions people across the nation, there is simply one thing to do in the coming period: pray for precipitation.

Amanda Lee
Amanda Lee

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about innovation and self-improvement, sharing experiences and knowledge.