Drought Devastation Detailed in UN Report

A prolonged and harsh drought in Syria has caused poverty and devastated important crops such as wheat and barley, according to a United Nations report, the official newspaper Tishreen reported on August 25.



The drought, which has gone on for some two years, has eliminated non-irrigated agriculture in the country, while irrigated crops have been cut in half, according to the report. Meanwhile, 80 per cent of sheep farming has been wiped out due to the lack of fodder.



The UN report, which the Syrian agriculture ministry asked for in order to evaluate the drought damage, was presented to representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Organisation for Migration.



Agriculture Minister Adel Safar said at the meeting that farming had also been affected by freezing conditions last winter.



FAO representative Abdullah Taher Ben Yahia called on international organisations and other Arab countries to provide aid.



The government has distributed aid for 29,000 families affected by the drought and invested 152 million lira (2.9 million US dollars) in small businesses, according to Tishreen.



Syria has also increased the price the government pays farmers for crops and has written off their debts, according to the newspaper.