HAMA, Syria (North Press) – Massive wildfires that swept through the countryside of Hama and the Ghab Plain in west-central Syria in August have destroyed vast areas of vegetation, dealing a severe blow to villagers who relied on collecting wild plants such as bay leaves, carob, thyme, and hyssop for survival.
For decades, these plants provided a modest but vital source of income. Today, residents say the fires have turned their last lifeline into ashes, leaving them without alternatives.
Hussein Shoshan, from the village of Ain Asad, told North Press that the losses have been devastating. “We used to collect bay leaves, hyssop, and thyme from dawn until evening just to cover basic household needs, like bread and sugar.”
“The mountain was our livelihood, but it burned completely,” he added. “Goods are expensive, our labor is cheap, and our suffering is immense.”
From Mazhal (Faqro) village, Ragheb Abdullah described the daily struggle: “We walked eight kilometers from morning until night to make 30,000 Syrian pounds [approximately $3], sometimes spending part of it on gasoline for our motorcycles.”
“After the fires, there’s nothing left—no land, no jobs, no income,” he said painfully. “Prices are on fire, and our labor is worth nothing.”
Ali, another plant picker from Faqro, said, “The fires consumed everything, green and dry alike. I used to earn 30,000 Syrian pounds a day, but today there is nothing—no jobs and no cash in people’s hands.”
The destruction has also disrupted trade. Hassan, a local merchant, told North Press that bay leaf supplies have dropped by more than 60 percent. “We used to receive up to two tons a day. Now, we barely get half a ton a week.”
As residents face worsening poverty, they say their lives remain trapped between need and deprivation, with no alternatives or job opportunities in sight.