Eastern Mediterranean Faces Worst Drought in Decades

Damascus, Sep 4 (AP) The Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East are currently experiencing the worst drought in decades, with devastating impacts on rivers, lakes, and crops. This has led to prolonged water cutoffs in major cities.

Syria's Challenges The situation is particularly severe in Syria, where experts note a long-term decline in rainfall. The new government is struggling to rebuild after a 14-year civil war that left the population impoverished and dependent on foreign aid. Small-scale farmer Mansour Mahmoud al-Khatib recalls that during the war, blockades by Hezbollah militants often kept him from his fields. Although Hezbollah retreated following a rebel offensive that led to President Bashar Assad's fall, the ongoing drought has severely impacted his farming, depleting the wells he relies on for irrigation.

“The land is missing the water,” al-Khatib told The Associated Press as he watched wheat being threshed. “This season is weak — you could call it half a season. Some years are better, and some years are worse, but this year is harsh.” In a good year, his land could yield 800 to 900 kilograms of wheat per dunam (roughly 0.1 hectares or 0.25 acres). This year, production was only about a quarter of that, forcing him to employ fewer workers.

Withering Crops The ongoing drought, combined with post-war economic difficulties, has left Syrian farmers with limited options for coping. Prior to the conflict that erupted in 2011, Syria's annual wheat yield was between 3.5 million and 4.5 million tons, sufficient to meet domestic needs, said Saeed Ibrahim from the Agriculture Ministry. The war reduced that production to between 2.2 million and 2.6 million tons per year, leading the government to import much of its wheat. This year's expected harvest is only 1 million tons, exacerbating financial strains due to increased import needs.

Mudar Dayoub from the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection noted that this year's wheat crop would only last two to three months, forcing reliance on imports and donations, particularly from Iraq. The World Food Program estimates that half of Syria's population is food-insecure, and authorities warn that relying on external sources endangers long-term food security.

Broader Middle Eastern Impact The neighboring region, including Lebanon, faces similar challenges. Lake Qaraoun, a reservoir fed by Lebanon's Litani River, has shrunk dramatically due to climate change, exacerbating Syria's water shortages. In Syria’s Idlib province, the Orontes River, crucial for irrigation and fishing, has dried up, with dead fish lining its banks. Dureid Haj Salah, a local farmer, lamented that the drought has ruined not just crops but also decades-old orchard trees.

Mostafa Summaq, directing water resources in Idlib, reported that groundwater levels have fallen by over 10 meters in some areas, leading to discussions about metered irrigation systems — though these remain financially out of reach without external aid.

Looking Ahead Experts agree that Syria and the broader region face worsening climate impacts. Matti Kummu, a global food and water expert, points out that the Middle East and Mediterranean are drying out, with Syria experiencing decreasing rainfall over the past 40 years. Groundwater, a critical resource, is being depleted at an unsustainable rate, making agricultural sustainability an urgent question.

Despite limited resources, Syria could employ strategies like rainwater harvesting, using drought-resistant crops, and implementing more efficient irrigation systems to mitigate these effects. “Yet, if the climate impact predictions hold,” Kummu cautions, “the future of arable land in the region may be uncertain.”

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