GENEVA: The UN’s food aid agency warned yesterday that Syria was facing a drought that could put millions of people’s lives at risk, compounding the impact of years of war.
“WFP is concerned about the impact of a looming drought hitting the northwest of the country — mainly Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama — with rainfall less than half of the long-term average and potentially major impacts on the next cereal harvest,” said World Food Programme spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs. “This could put the lives of millions at risk if the drought continues,” she said.
Byrs said there were huge concerns about the drought’s impact on Syrian agriculture. The WFP is currently able to get aid to 4.5 million people in Syria out of the 6.5 million it estimates need help. Byrs said it was not clear how many more people would end up counting on food aid supplies because of the drought. AFP
