Severe drought in Syria this year is threatening about 75% of local wheat crops, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns, risking food shortages for millions.
Toni Ettel, FAO’s representative in Syria, told Reuters that the agency expects a wheat shortfall of 2.7 million tonnes this year — enough to feed 16.3 million people for a year.
For years, under President Bashar al-Assad, Syria relied on wheat imports from Russia to support bread subsidies during droughts. But after Assad was ousted, Moscow stopped wheat shipments, citing uncertainty about Syria’s new government.
Farmers like Asaad Ezzeldin in Aleppo have seen their crops fail due to lack of rain and irrigation. The agriculture sector is already weakened after 13 years of war and heavy bombing.
In a surprise move, U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week plans to lift all sanctions on Syria, with some relief expected soon. This could help Syria’s agriculture recover by allowing funds for irrigation and rebuilding infrastructure, Ettel said.
Following this move The EU has also officially announced the lifting of its broad economic sanctions on Syria, aiming to support the country’s reconstruction and recovery.
The removal of sanctions on Syria is seen as a turning point, offering hope for progress in key sectors like agriculture. With restrictions lifted, Syrian farmers may soon gain access to vital resources such as irrigation technology, fuel, and investment—essential for rebuilding after years of war and drought. While targeted sanctions tied to the Assad regime and security risks remain, the broader move signals international support for Syria’s recovery and political transition.
Syria’s new government has long pushed to remove sanctions that isolated its economy, making it heavily dependent on Russia and Iran.
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Saudi Arabia announced Thursday it will provide Syria with 1.65 million barrels of crude oil to help the country rebuild its economy and infrastructure after nearly 14 years of civil war.
Syrian and Saudi officials held parallel meetings in Damascus and Riyadh on Sunday, signalling deeper cooperation across humanitarian, agricultural and investment sectors.
Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence has warned that the terrorist group Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)’s inability to integrate into the Syrian army poses a serious threat to the country’s political and territorial integrity.
Direct road transport between Türkiye and Syria has restarted after more than a decade. The move is expected to boost trade and support Syria’s post-war recovery.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, said the country will expand imports from the U.S. to further reduce tariffs on Bangladeshi goods, particularly textiles.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Hamas after reports that hostages in Gaza City have been moved above ground to serve as human shields against Israel’s ground offensive.
Polish authorities have detained two Belarusian nationals after a drone was spotted flying over government buildings and the Belweder Palace in Warsaw. The State Protection Service (SOP) neutralised the unmanned aerial vehicle, Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed.
Poland’s interception of low-cost Russian drones has exposed NATO’s reliance on billion-dollar defences, fuelling urgent debate on how the alliance can counter cheap threats without unsustainable responses.
The U.S. military carried out a strike on a Venezuelan drug trafficking vessel in international waters on Monday, killing three people, President Donald Trump announced.
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