This summer may be the most difficult for Syrians in decades in terms of water and food security, as they face increasing challenges in providing for their water needs, whether for personal, agricultural, and industrial use.

The country is facing a serious water crisis. With per capita water supply now below the global water poverty line of 1,000 cubic meters per year, the nation is facing a severe water deficit of 1.1 billion cubic meters. This is due to low rainfall, persistent droughts, expanding desertification, and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure, the rehabilitation of which will cost more than $600 million, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Global studies predict that Syria, which ranks 31st globally among countries experiencing drought, will experience a water deficit by the beginning of 2030.

On the other hand, after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime last December, "Israel" quickly revealed its water ambitions in Syria. It took control of the Mount Hermon area, where Syria's strategic water resources are located, as well as the Baniyas Spring, the Ain al-Ziwan Spring, and the Mantara Dam in Al-Quneitra.

"Israel" also recently took control of the Yarmouk River, the longest river in the Hauran Plain, which flows into the Jordan River, and its waters cover approximately 20% of the water resources in southern Syria. 

Israeli forces also reached the Al-Wahda Dam, the most important water reservoir shared between Syria and Jordan, with a capacity of 110 million cubic meters. 

The governorates of Daraa, Ramtha, and Irbid depend on it, and it covers approximately 10% of the water needs of southern Syria and northern Jordan.

Population's suffering increasing

“Because we are poor and live in slums on the outskirts of the capital, we are considered second-class citizens."

With these words, Ibtisam began her conversation with Al Mayadeen English.

She added, "We, the residents of Damascus, are accustomed to daily water availability and drinking tap water from the Ain al-Fijeh spring. Unfortunately, the spring is going dry over time, but is it fair, on days like these, when temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius, that water is pumped to us only four days a week? We want prompt solutions."

Some citizens resort to purchasing water from mobile tankers. A 10-barrel tank costs more than 10$, which is "a large weekly amount for a family living in a rented property," according to Ibtisam.

According to the Damascus Water Establishment, the Fijeh Spring, which supplies water to nearly five million people in the capital, is currently operating at its lowest level, following the driest year since 1956.

At midnight, Abu Bassam's family mobilizes their efforts. Everyone rushes to fill all available buckets, even household utensils, with water. They monitor the tank's filling closely, as water is so scarce that it fails to reach the fifth floor, even with a pump installed.

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Um Bassam said, "There's a dilemma. The power outages coincide with the water pumping schedule, preventing water from reaching the tanks on the roofs of the buildings. So we've also started rationing the number of times we shower and wash clothes throughout the week. The situation was better last winter."

In eastern Syria, the amount of wheat delivered to the Syrian state has decreased significantly compared to last year.

Khalaf, a fifty-year-old farmer, described his decision to grow wheat this year as a "losing venture". He said, "The drought has severely affected us, and we also suffer from a severe shortage of agricultural equipment, including pumping water from groundwater wells. The cost of operating a single well ranges between $15000 and $25,000, which is far beyond our capacity."

Thousands of farmers have been forced to resort to rain-fed agriculture, as the use of well water or irrigated land has become almost impossible. Khalaf attributed this to "arbitrary rise in fuel prices and soaring prices of fertilizers, seeds, and agricultural pesticides, which are increasing without any oversight."

Fears of fragmentation in water resources management

Drought and dwindling water resources have reduced the amount of water allocated for summer crop cultivation this year. This was the first adverse impact highlighted by agricultural economics expert Samer Saleh in his interview for Al Mayadeen English.

“Before 2011, the agricultural sector contributed over 30% of Syria’s GDP. Today, that figure has declined to just 13%. Agricultural products once accounted for approximately 16% of total exports, but many of those same goods are now being imported. Syria is fundamentally an agricultural country, and its cultivated areas depend on water, whether from rain, groundwater, or rivers. Naturally, when drought occurs, pressure shifts to groundwater resources, making their depletion a critical concern, especially in the governorates of Al-Hasakah, Damascus, and its surrounding countryside."

One of the most significant problems experts fear is the "fragmentation of water resources management." 

According to Saleh, "Syria relies heavily on water resources from neighboring countries, such as the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which originate in Turkey, and the Orontes River, which originates in Lebanon. The agreements governing water relations with neighboring countries are complex. The priority now must be to resolve water-sharing disputes among the countries that share these resources, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Jordan, particularly with regard to determining water flow and each country's share."

"For example, the water flowing from the Euphrates River toward Syria is around 200 cubic meters per second, while it should receive 500 cubic meters per second under the agreements signed with Turkey," he added.

FAO warns!

"Nearly 2.5 million hectares of wheat-sown areas have been damaged by adverse weather conditions", according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), "which will force authorities to increasingly rely on imports."

FAO Assistant Representative in Syria, Haya Abu Assaf, said, "The harsh weather conditions experienced during the current agricultural season are the worst in nearly 60 years." 

These conditions have affected "about 75% of the cultivated areas and natural pastures for livestock production." 

Syria has experienced a decline in rainfall this winter, according to Abu Assaf. 

As a result, about 95% of rain-fed wheat has been damaged or affected, while irrigated wheat will yield 30 to 40% less than usual, according to FAO indicators. 

Abu Assaf warned that this "will lead to a gap of between 2.5 and 2.7 million tons," which would put approximately 16.3 million people at risk of food insecurity in Syria this year. 

It is worth noting that before 2011, Syria was self-sufficient in wheat production, yielding 4.1 million tons annually. However, as the war continued, production declined to record lows.