Environmental
Severe drought declared in western Syria
Syrian authorities declare a severe drought emergency in several western governorates, citing catastrophic crop losses and rapidly depleting water reserves.
On March 26, 2026, Syrian government officials announced a severe drought emergency affecting large parts of western Syria, including Homs, Lattakia, and Idlib. They warned that prolonged rainfall shortages, combined with damaged irrigation infrastructure, have pushed key agricultural areas to the brink. Farmers report widespread wilting crops and near-total losses for some winter harvests, while local water suppliers face acute shortages in both rural and urban areas. The drought is straining an already fragile humanitarian situation, as many communities depend on rain-fed agriculture and shallow wells. The declaration is expected to trigger domestic aid measures and calls for international support to prevent a deeper food and water crisis.
- Status
- active
- Location
- Western Syria (Homs, Lattakia and Idlib regions)
- Date added
- 2026-03-26 00:09 UTC
- Last updated
- 2026-03-26 00:09 UTC
- Source
- Syria Direct
- Connected threats
- Not provided