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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Four members of Syria’s General Directorate of Ports were injured on Friday when their vehicle came under fire east of Aleppo, local authorities reported.
One year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Syria remains at a critical crossroads, attempting to rebuild after 14 years of civil war while confronting deep political divisions, economic collapse and persistent insecurity.
Syria's foreign and defence ministers met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss expanding military, political and economic cooperation, with a focus on strategic collaboration in defence industries, Syria's state news agency SANA reported.
Senior Turkish officials have met with their Syrian counterparts in Damascus on Monday ahead of a deadline for Kurdish-led forces in the Country's northeast to be integrated into the Syrian Armed forces.
New York placed the state under emergency measures on Friday as a powerful winter storm brought the heaviest snowfall since 2022, disrupting travel across the north-east of the United States.
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Brigitte Bardot, the French actress whose barefoot mambo in And God Created Woman propelled her to international fame and reshaped female sexuality on screen, has died at the age of 91, her foundation said on Sunday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United States ahead of talks with President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war, as Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine overnight on Saturday, killing at least two people and injuring more than 40.
Iran is engaged in a “comprehensive war” with the United States, Israel, and Europe, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Saturday.
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China has connected the world’s largest offshore solar power project to its national grid, marking a significant step in the country’s push to expand renewable energy generation.
The U.S. on Saturday welcomed the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, which ended weeks of deadly border clashes, and called on both countries to fully implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement.
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