Attachments
What happened, where and when?
After more than ten years of conict in Syria, access to water had become one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges, further exacerbated by the eects of climate change. According to SARC's severity scale, updated in June 2023, all districts in Al-Sweida were ranked between levels 3 and 5, indicating major, severe, or critical water needs. During the reporting period, Al-Sweida governorate experienced a sharp decline in water availability, driven by a combination of factors. The main source of drinking water, which had previously provided 15,000 cubic meters daily half of the city's needs had been lost since 2012. At the same time, the population increased by 75% between 2010 and 2022, signicantly raising demand and placing greater pressure on already strained resources. The reduction in electricity supply from 24 hours per day to just 4 hours per day severely disrupted pumping operations, while the overall maintenance and technical capacity of water infrastructure had deteriorated considerably. The worsening scarcity of water resources, compounded by climate-related shocks, led to tensions within the local community over access to water points, agricultural land, and pastures. Agriculture remained the main source of livelihood in the area, but increasing temperatures and reduced rainfall drastically diminished pasture coverage. Many pumping stations became inoperable or inaccessible due to insecurity and damage, further limiting water access. The mismanagement of critical natural resources created conditions ripe for environmental and public health crises. One of the most serious outcomes was the 2022 cholera outbreak. In the weeks preceding this report, an increase in hepatitis A cases was also recorded in Al-Sweida, linked to the consumption of unsafe water and food. The entire governorate was at risk of severe water shortages, signicantly aecting communities reliant on rain-fed agriculture and worsening the region’s food security situation. Declining purchasing power further exacerbated the impact of water scarcity. The cost of transporting 25 barrels of water reached 100,000 Syrian pounds barely enough to meet the needs of a family of ve for two weeks. Dams, which previously supplied up to 22% of water needs, had largely dried up, and purication stations were projected to cease operations within months. Additionally, there was a notable decline in livestock, particularly in the eastern and northern countryside, where Bedouin communities who relied almost entirely on livestock breeding constituted a signicant portion of the population. Although the Ministry of Water Resources implemented various mitigation measures, the scale of the challenges far exceeded the available capacities. Based on these outcomes, SARC convened a membership meeting on 8 August 2023 to discuss the existing gaps and priority needs. This meeting triggered a request for Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) support to complement SARC’s proposed intervention plan, aimed at responding to an orange category emergency targeting approximately 650,000 people.