Attachments
Although water has traditionally been a scarce resource in Northeast Syria, the past three years have seen a deteriorating crisis with consequences for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), as well as food and livelihoods security.
KEY MESSAGES
Severe gaps in WASH systems persist. Small communities and informal sites, cut off from water networks, have limited access to safe and affordable drinking water. Populations often rely on untreated water sources and inadequate sewage systems, increasing the risk of waterborne disease spread.
The water crisis has significantly impacted livelihoods. As farmers in Syria’s historical breadbasket contend with higher production costs, this has also led to an increase in consumer prices. Beyond agriculture, all economic sectors have been affected by the shortage in hydropower production.
Food is largely unaffordable, even as goods are available on markets. Skipping meals and prioritizing food for vulnerable household members have become common coping strategies.
CONTEXT & RATIONALE
The current brief summarizes key findings from the latest situation overview on the Northeast Syria water crisis published by REACH in July 2023. Twelve years into the conflict and ensuing humanitarian crisis, Syria is today also facing severe water shortages with knock-on effects on other needs and sectors.
While water scarcity has historically impacted the region, research indicates the current crisis has likely further been compunded by drying conditions related to climate change. Decreasing rainfall in the past three years appears to be among the main immediate drivers of the crisis, contributing to 20-year record low groundwater levels1 and the lowest flows ever seen on the Euphrates river2. Intensive water usage for agriculture has also contributed to reducing groundwater reserves and the quality of water.