Syria’s worst drought in decades pushes millions to the brink

Near the city of Hama, the wheat fields outside Seqalbia should be gold and heavy.

Instead, Maer Haddad’s 40 dunums (10 acres) are dry and empty, barely one -third of his usual harvests.

46 -year -old farmer, “this year was a disaster because of drought,” he said.

The fields delivered only 190kg (418 lbs) per world – well below the 400-500kg it trusted in a normal year.

“We did not save what we spend for agriculture; we lost money. I can’t meet my financing and food and beverage costs next year.” He said.

With two young daughters to be fed, he is now lending money from relatives to survive.

Mr. Haddad’s struggle is echoed in Syria, where the worst drought in 36 years reduces the wheat harvests by 40% and about 90% of the population is already pushed to a wider food crisis on a wider food crisis.

A report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that Syria will face a lack of wheat of 2.73 million tons this year and that it is the equivalent of annual diet needs for 16.25 million people.

Piro Tomaso Perri, FAO’s Senior Program Officer, will deteriorate in Syria’s hunger crisis in a dramatic way without the ability to import a hunger crisis or imported wheat.

“Food insecurity can reach unprecedented levels until the end of 2025,” he said, and more than 14 million Syrians – six of 10 people – are already fighting to eat enough. 9.1 million, including 1.3 million severe conditions, is facing acute hunger, 5.5 million risks are shifting to the crisis without emergency intervention.

The same report showed that the rainfall fell by about 70% and that Syria hides 75% of rain -fed agricultural land.

“This is the difference between families’ stay in their communities or forcing them to migrate.” He said. “This means increasing bread prices for urban households. For rural families, it means the collapse of livelihoods.”

The families of farming are already selling animals to support lost income from wheat, reducing the number of daily dishes, and there was an increase in malnutrition rates between children and pregnant women.

Nevertheless, the results of the drought go far beyond thousands of kilometers of barren agricultural land.

Wheat is a basic crop in Syria. It is the main component for bread and pasta – two food staples that should be low -cost foods for families. In other words, the lack of wheat supply increases.

39 -year -old Dul Sanaa Mahamid has become a great struggle to provide bread.

With six children between the ages of nine and 20, they rely on the wages of their two sons, but their salaries are not enough to cover the basic expenses of the family.

“Sometimes we borrow money just to buy bread,” he said.

Last year, a bag of bread Sanna 500 Syria pound ($ 4.1; $ 3; 3.5 €) cost, but now 4,500 Syria pounds. Sanaa needs two bags a day to feed her family – 9,000 pounds expenses before taking other foods into account.

“This is too much. This is just bread and still need other things,” he said. “If the price of bread rises again, this will be a big problem. The most important thing is bread.”

The crisis is a challenge for the temporary president Ahmed Al-Sharaa, because his administration works to rebuild Syria after 14 years of conflict and the removal of former leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

International agencies such as the UN World Food Program (WFP) are in a hurry to step next to the government to provide bread subsidies for those who are at risk of encountering serious food insecurity.

However, the aid officials warn that subsidies are only a temporary correction and that Syria’s long -term stability depends on whether farmers will remain in the territory and whether they can maintain production.

“We are trying to keep people in agriculture games,” WFP’s Syrian country director Marianne Ward, “” He said. He worked to give small farmers who lost all their products – about 150,000 people – to give $ 8 million (£ 6.9 million €) directly for direct payments.

“If you do not make money, you will leave the land. And then you will not have people who will work in the agricultural sector that is necessary for the economy,” he said.

However, after a war for more than ten years, Syria’s agricultural sector has already destroyed economic collapse, irrigation systems and beaten by mined areas.

Syria’s bread basket Deir Al-Zour Region Agricultural Director Dr Ali Aloush, wheat fields should be irrigated four to six times per season, but because of the lack of rain, most farmers could not continue, he said.

Dr Aloush, “The primary concern of the farmer is to secure water and water. Fuel price rose rapidly. 11,000 to 12,000 Syria pounds per liter.” He said.

The high price of fuel and power cuts meant that water pumps could not be reached and many breeders have already been loaded with debts.

Dr Aloush is a priority for the department and the transition government in Damascus is investing money in irrigation projects, such as solar drops that will make water more accessible to farmers.

However, such projects take time and money – luxury that wheat farmers do not have now.

In other words, there is only one thing to do in the coming months for millions of Syrians throughout the country: Pray for the rain.

Additional reports of Lana Antaki in Damascus