Syria and Iraq hit hard by severe drought

Considered the breadbasket of the country, the north-eastern region of Syria is facing a dramatic situation. “For the second consecutive year, we are facing a very early drought. We haven’t been able to harvest anything yet.”, deplores a Syrian farmer who regrets his investment. Its harvested wheat, of poor quality, will be used only to feed livestock. Syria and Iraq have been hit by sandstorms in recent weeks, further consequences of climate change.

After eleven years of war in Syria, this new difficulty is a challenge for farmers sometimes neglected by aid from the state : “The price set by the administration is 2,200 Syrian pounds per kilo of wheat. It’s less than a euro. This is not enough to save our farms”notes a Syrian grain farmer. In addition to the drought, an epidemic of Congo fever is also hitting livestock, especially in Iraq. UN worries about possible famine in East Africa and Syria as 60% of the population struggles to eat properly.