WFP warns of worsening hunger in Syria as wheat shortages deepen
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) warned on Tuesday that around three million Syrians risk facing severe hunger, adding to the already dire humanitarian crisis in the country.
In written responses to Reuters, the agency said that more than half of Syria’s 25.6 million people are currently food insecure.
“Half of the population is threatened to suffer from the drought, especially when it comes to the availability of bread, which is the most important food during the crisis,” said Toni Ettel, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) representative in Syria.
Wheat production, a staple for millions of Syrians, is expected to plunge this year. Syria consumes about four million tons annually, but domestic output is projected to fall to just 1.2 million tons in 2025—down 40 percent from last year, according to FAO figures.
The shortfall is likely to push Syria’s reliance on imports to record levels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that the country will need to import 2.15 million tons of wheat in the 2025/26 season—53 percent more than last year.
The WFP has not provided a specific timeframe for when hunger levels could worsen, but aid officials warn that without urgent support, food shortages will severely impact millions across the country.