Syria's Wheat War: Drought Fuels Food Crisis For 16 Million
Rival Syrian and Kurdish producers are scrambling for shrinking wheat harvests as the worst drought in decades follows a devastating war, pushing more than 16 million people toward food insecurity.
"The country has not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years," said Haya Abu Assaf, assistant to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Syria.
Syria's water levels have seen "a very significant drop compared to previous years, which is very worrying", Abu Assaf told AFP, as a relatively short winter rainy season and decreased rainfall take their toll.
"A gap of between 2.5 to 2.7 million tonnes in the wheat crop is expected, meaning that the wheat quantity will not be sufficient to meet local needs," Abu Assaf said, putting "around 16.3 million people at risk of food insecurity in Syria this year".
Before the civil war erupted in 2011, Syria was self-sufficient in wheat, producing an average of 4.1 million tonnes annually.
Nearly 14 years of conflict have since crippled production and devastated the economy.
The FAO estimates that harsh weather has impacted nearly 2.5 million hectares of wheat-growing land.
"Around 75 percent of the cultivated areas" have been affected, as well as "natural pastures for livestock production", said Abu Assaf.
To bridge the wheat gap, imports would be essential in a country where around 90 percent of the population lives in poverty.
Before his ouster in an Islamist-led offensive in December, Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad used to rely on ally Russia for wheat.
In April, new authorities reported the first wheat shipment since his removal arrived in Latakia port, with more Russian shipments following.
Iraq also donated more than 220,000 tonnes of wheat to Syria.
During the war, Damascus competed with the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast to buy wheat from farmers across fertile lands.
Last year, Assad's government priced wheat at $350 per tonne, and the Kurds at $310.
After Assad's ouster, Damascus and the Kurds agreed in March to integrate Kurdish-led institutions into the new Syrian state, with negotiations ongoing on implementation.
Damascus set wheat prices this month at between $290 and $320 per tonne, depending on the quality, plus a $130 bonus.
The Kurdish-led administration offered $420 per tonne including a $70 bonus.
Damascus' agriculture ministry expects a harvest of 300,000 to 350,000 tonnes in government-controlled areas this year.
Hassan Othman, director of the Syrian Grain Establishment, acknowledged Syria was not self-sufficient, in comments on state television.
But he said authorities were working "to ensure food security by importing wheat from abroad and milling it in our mills".
In northeast Syria's Amuda, farmer Jamshid Hassu, 65, inspected the tiny wheat grains from his fields, which cover around 200 hectares (around 500 acres).
Despite heavy irrigation efforts to offset scarce rainfall, he said, production has halved.
The FAO's Abu Assaf said indicators showed that "about 95 percent of rain-fed wheat has been damaged and affected", while irrigated wheat yields were down 30 to 40 percent.
Hassu, who has been farming for four decades, said he had to pump water from depths of more than 160 metres (525 feet) to sustain his crops as groundwater levels plunge.
Agriculture remains a vital income source in rural Syria, but without urgent support, farmers face ruin.
"Without support, we will not be able to continue," Hassu warned.
"People will suffer from poverty and hunger." Before the war, Syria was self-sufficient in wheat, producing an average of 4.1 million tonnes annually, but 14 years of conflict crippled production AFP A flock of sheep grazes in a field on the outskirts of Qamishli AFP The FAO estimates that harsh weather has impacted nearly 2.5 million hectares of wheat-growing land AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
6 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Thousands Protest Calling For Thai PM's Resignation
Thousands of anti-government protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign after a leaked diplomatic phone call stirred public anger over her leadership. A Cambodian elder statesman leaked a call meant to sooth a border spat between the two nations in which Paetongtarn called him "uncle" and referred to a Thai military commander as her "opponent". A key party abandoned Paetongtarn's coalition, accusing the 38-year-old dynastic premier of cow-towing to Cambodia and undermining Thailand's military, leaving her teetering with a slim parliamentary majority. Around 4,000 demonstrators filled roads ringing the capital's Victory Monument, waving Thai flags and cheering for speeches interspersed with live music. The crowd was mostly senior-aged and led by veteran activists of the "Yellow Shirt" movement -- which helped oust Paetongtarn's father Thaksin in the 2000s -- as well as one of his former allies now among his harshest critics. "I'm here to protect Thailand's sovereignty and to say the PM is unfit," said 70-year-old protester Seri Sawangmue, who travelled overnight by bus from the country's north to attend. "After I heard the leaked call, I knew I couldn't trust her," he told AFP. "I've lived through many political crises and I know where this is going. She's willing to give up our sovereignty." Thailand has seen decades of clashes between the bitterly-opposed "Yellow Shirts" who defend the monarchy and military and the "Red Shirts" backing Thaksin, who they consider a threat to Thailand's traditional social order. Jamnong Kalana, 64, said she was once a "Red Shirt" but had now changed her colours and was demanding Paetongtarn's resignation. "I feel full of pain when I see a fellow Thai who doesn't love the country like I do," she said. Authorities said more than 1,000 police and 100 city officials had been deployed for the event which remained peaceful early on Saturday afternoon. Paetongtarn was visiting Thailand's flood-hit north but before departing Bangkok she told reporters: "It's their right to protest, as long as it's peaceful". The prime minister has been battered by controversy and abandoned by her largest backer the Bhumjaithai Party after her phone call with Cambodia's ex-leader Hun Sen leaked earlier this month. Tensions between the countries have soared after a border dispute boiled over into violence last month which killed one Cambodia soldier. Next week, both Paetongtarn and her father face legal battles that could reshape Thailand's political landscape. On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court will decide whether to take up a petition by senators seeking her removal over alleged unprofessionalism. That same day, her father is set to stand trial on royal defamation charges linked to decade-old remarks to South Korean media. Paetongtarn took office less than a year ago after her predecessor was disqualified by a court order and her father returned from exile after 15 years. She is the fourth Shinawatra-linked figure to become prime minister following her father, aunt and uncle-in-law.
DW
a day ago
- DW
Fact check: Claims of extremism against Mamdani debunked – DW – 06/27/2025
The media and internet is buzzing after Zohran Mamdani's Democratic primary win for New York City mayor, but he has also faced allegations of Islamist extremism and antisemitism. DW fact checks. Following his sensational victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary this week, social media has been flooded with claims about Zohran Mamdani – the 33-year-old Democratic Cocialist who is now odds-on to become the 111th mayor of the most populated city in the United States. Mamdani campaigned heavily on issues around affordability in one of the most expensive cities in the world, promising free public transport and subsidized groceries funded by increased taxation on higher earners. But many social media reactions have focused on his personal profile as a Ugandan-born Muslim of Indian heritage who has been outspoken in his criticism of the Israeli government's policies in the Middle East, leading to allegations of Islamist extremism and antisemitism. DW Fact check takes a look at two of the most viral claims made against him. Claim: Mamdani is a "raging antisemite" DW Fact check: False At its broadest, antisemitism is generally defined as hatred of and prejudice toward Jews. DW looked into claims of antisemitism and found the following information: Mamdani has worked with Jewish politicians, such as in 2018, when he served as campaign manager for Jewish politician Ross Barkan's bid for New York State Senate, and has been endorsed by others. Mamdani has spoken out against antisemitism on the campaign trail. In an interview with progressive Jewish US digital newspaper Forward he said "it would be absolutely incumbent on me to condemn" evidence of antisemitism. He has also stated on various occasions that there is "no room for antisemitism" in New York City, or the world. Mamdani does not, however, condemn the controversial term "globalize the intifada," a reference to civilian uprisings by Palestinians against Israel. While critics claim this is incitement to violence against Jews, Mamdani maintained in a podcast interview that it is an expression of a desire for equality. Complicating things, there are also various codified definitions of antisemitism, such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition or the Jerusalem Declaration, which vary, among other things, in how they relate criticism of Israel and Zionism to antisemitism. For instance, the IHRA includes "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination" as a form of antisemitism while the Jerusalem definition allows for "opposing Zionism as a form of nationalism." In a TV debate, Mamdani stated he "believes Israel has the right to exist ... as a state with equal rights" but did not explicitly recognize Israel as a specifically Jewish state. This could be considered antisemitism according to the IHRA definition but not the Jerusalem Declaration. The case is similar when it comes to Mamdani's long-standing support of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates for the use of economic action against Israel to pressure it to change its policies towards Palestinians. While some individuals, organizations and countries, including Germany, define support for BDS as inherently antisemitic, others do not. In short, while Mamdani's views in relation to Israel and the Middle East conflict are controversial for some, they cannot be conclusively defined as antisemitic due to the differences in perceptions of what defines antisemitism in relation to Israel. Claim: Mamdani "wants Sharia law." DW Fact check: False As a practicing Shia Muslim, Mamdani has been targeted for his religious beliefs both during the campaign and following his primary victory. Earlier this month, he called out an image allegedly circulated by supporters of rival Andrew Cuomo in which his appearance had been altered to give him a darker and fuller beard (see image below). "This is blatant Islamophobia," he said. Meanwhile, one social media post that accrued over 50,000 views claimed that Mamdani wants to turn New York into a "Muslim paradise where jihadists are in charge" and that he "wants Sharia law to be the governing principle." Now, while various Mamdani campaign ads have referenced aspects of Muslim culture and addressed the lack of representation of Muslims in NYC and the US, DW has not found any evidence that he has ever advocated for a theocracy according to Islamic law. On the contrary: In remarks given at the Parkchester Islamic Center in the Bronx, a NYC neighborhood, he said: "I know what our community wants is what every community wants and deserves: safety, equality and respect." He added: "One of the clearest ways you win is at the ballot box." His political campaign has focused primarily on affordability and inclusivity. For instance, Mamdani has promised to fund gender-affirming care for transgender individuals, make NYC a LGBTQIA+ sanctuary city and create an office of LGBTQIA+ affairs. Because there is no central Islamic authority, positions on same-sex relations and transgender identities can vary, but many countries that rely on sharia principles persecute, criminalize or socially ostracize non-heteronormative gender relations or identities. In 2024, Mamdani was an outspoken supporter of "Proposition 1" (formerly known as the New York Equal Rights Amendment), which prevented state lawmakers from enacting policies that discriminated based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare. "There is one issue that we as lawmakers should have no power over: reproductive rights," wrote Mamdani, then an assemblyman for Astoria and Long Island City, in the local Daily Eagle newspaper in the New York City borough of Queens. While some right-wing critics accuse him of being an Islamist extremist, Mamdani has also faced criticism from some New York Muslims who have accused him of not being Muslim enough, according to a report by : Earlier this month, while speaking at a town hall event on corporate greed, Mamdani was reportedly interrupted by two protesters who took issue with his belief that Israel has the right to exist — a stance that they considered too soft and accused Mamdani of betraying his Muslim roots. "Mr. Mamdani faces a challenge even among some Muslims," reported . "He is a democratic socialist, and some of his policies, like supporting legalized marijuana or LGBTQ rights, do not align with more conservative mosques' thinking." In the wake of his primary victory, Zohran Mamdani has faced a wave of misinformation targeting his faith and political views. DW Fact check examined just two of many viral claims, and with the election approaching, such narratives are likely to persist—or even intensify.
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Int'l Business Times
Green Bonds Offer Hope, And Risk, In Africa's Climate Fight
It only took two days for Nigeria to raise $59 million through green bonds -- part of a funding drive for climate and environmental projects in a nation still hooked on oil. Africa remains a small player in the green bond market, and the debt instrument is underused -- but it is becoming a fast-growing source of funding for the world's poorest continent, which is at the forefront of climate change. Green bonds are similar to sovereign bonds: Investors are paid interest on what is essentially a loan to the government, but in this case the money funds environmentally friendly projects. But the continent's investment risk profile means that countries pay a high interest rate to borrow money. Nigeria is paying 19-percent interest on the green bonds it issued earlier in June. By comparison, France is paying three-percent interest on its latest green bonds. Nigeria's recent fundraising round is slated to put money into a slew of renewable energy, eco-friendly housing, conservation and infrastructure projects. "Nigeria is a continental leader in the African green bond market," Lagos-based law firm Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie told AFP in a note. "However, to unlock the full potential of green bonds, especially in Africa, we need stronger regulatory frameworks, better project pipelines, capacity-building for issuers and enhanced investor confidence." The continent accounted for only about $5 billion of the 2.2 trillion global green bond market in 2023, according to data from the Africa Policy Research Institute. But that came on the back of a 125 percent increase in issuances that year and "significant growth" in the market, it said. Nigeria was the first African state to issue sovereign green bonds, selling $30 million in 2017 and then another $41 million in 2019. The west African nation was following an example set by Johannesburg in 2014, when the South African municipality paved the way on the continent by issuing nearly $140 million in green bonds to investors. Since then, Kenyan developer Acorn Holdings issued east Africa's first green bonds in 2019, raising more than $40 million to finance what it called environmentally friendly student housing. Tanzania's CRDB Bank launched its first green bonds in 2023, raising $300 million for financing renewable energy as well as infrastructure and water supply projects. The biggest coup came last year in Ivory Coast, where $1.5 billion was raised. Yet the continent remains underfinanced, with Nairobi-based nonprofit FSD Africa blaming "unstable macroeconomic conditions," a risky political and business environment and "a shortage of bankable green projects". Currency depreciation and high inflation also create risks for investors. In response, governments have to offer "a risk premium to attract investors." China and the United States, the world's two biggest polluters, dominate the green bond market as they seek ways to fund their energy transitions. Their leadership is not surprising "given that they are carbon-intensive economies who have contributed more in the global climate crisis," said Alex Oche, an environmental law expert at Nigeria's Institute for Oil, Gas, Environment, Energy and Sustainable Development. Africa is responsible for just roughly four percent of global emissions that contribute to climate change. Yet its poorer countries remain some of the least prepared to deal with the fallout of successive crises, from erratic rainfall to shifting fishing stocks, linked to rising global temperatures. "The future of green bonds in Africa and globally is promising, but it will depend heavily on credibility, innovation and inclusive growth," said law firm Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie. Beyond an influx of cash, a better regulatory framework is also needed, experts said. Razaq Fatai, a researcher for Nigerian consulting firm Vestance, studied previous projects financed by green bonds and warned that several appeared to resemble "greenwashing" -- including a reforestation project in Oyo state where "the community was not involved" in the planning. "After a couple of years, most of the trees were dying," he said. "If you continue to do that, continue to spend money like that, you just end up just wasting public resources, and then you have to pay interest on those debts that we encourage."
