Attachments
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 2025 drought, the most severe Syria has experienced in four decades, has had a devastating impact on the agricultural communities of Nashabiyeh and Hosh Nasri in Douma, Rural Damascus. Once considered a vital food basket for the capital, these areas now face a profound humanitarian crisis, with widespread crop failure, collapsing livelihoods, and deepening food and water insecurity.
The assessment, led by the Syria Community Consortium (DRC, NRC, IMC, Oxfam), found that over 95% of farming households suffered crop losses, with 14% losing nearly their entire harvest. Wheat and barley yields dropped by up to 75%, and many farmers were forced to abandon cultivation altogether due to water scarcity and unaffordable inputs. Livelihoods have been severely disrupted, with 98% of households reporting income losses. With 92% of families dependent on agriculture and no access to formal safety nets, communities are resorting to asset sales and drastic reductions in essential spending to survive.
Food insecurity is acute. While 95% of households technically meet minimum food consumption thresholds, this masks a reality of reduced quantity and quality. A staggering 93% of respondents reported declining food access, and 76% said their food was “never enough”. Households are increasingly relying on cheap staples while sacrificing nutrition, with over half cutting spending on food, hygiene, and even energy.
Water access has emerged as a critical vulnerability. Most households rely on private boreholes for domestic use, while drinking water is largely purchased through costly trucking or bottled sources. The drought has exacerbated this dependence, with borehole depletion and rising water costs placing immense financial strain on families. Public water systems are largely non-functional, and groundwater levels continue to decline.
The crisis has also begun to fray the social fabric. Over a third of households reported increased tensions within communities, particularly over access to water. A small but significant number of families are considering relocation, signalling the potential for further displacement if conditions persist.