Syria is facing its worst agricultural crisis in nearly four decades as a historic drought, compounded by years of conflict and economic collapse, pushes millions toward hunger, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned.
The 2024&ndash;25 season is the driest in 40 years, crippling both rain-fed and irrigated farming. More than 75 per cent of rain-fed farmland has been hit, with rainfall deficits reaching 69 per cent in key areas, FAO officials said. Even irrigated lands are struggling due to water shortages, power cuts, and broken infrastructure.
&ldquo;This dual shock to crops and livestock is unprecedented,&rdquo; said Pirro-Tomaso Perri, FAO program officer. Wheat output in 2025 is projected at just 900,000&ndash;1.1 million tonnes far below the 4 million tonnes needed leaving a massive deficit.
Over 14 million Syrians are already food insecure, with 5.5 million at risk of sliding deeper into hunger. The drought has devastated pasturelands, doubled fodder prices, and forced herders to sell off flocks. Families returning to rural areas also face destroyed irrigation networks and limited inputs.
FAO has launched a $286.7 million Emergency and Recovery Plan (2025&ndash;27) to support 9.7 million people with drought-tolerant seeds, livestock feed, veterinary services, and irrigation rehabilitation. But only $66 million is currently sought for immediate drought relief, and funding gaps threaten to derail recovery.
&ldquo;Emergency action is needed now to save the next harvest,&rdquo; Perri warned. &ldquo;The window for action is closing rapidly.&rdquo;
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UN warns millions risk hunger as Syria’s historic drought devastates crops, livestock

Syria Faces Worst Drought in 40 Years

UN warns millions risk hunger as Syria’s historic drought devastates crops, livestock

August 28, 2025 | 01:10 IST