DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Border villages in the Daraa Governorate, particularly Maariya village, located in the far southwestern part of the governorate, are facing increasingly difficult living and economic conditions amid continued security tensions and Israeli incursions in the area. This has directly affected the lives of residents, most of whom rely on agriculture, livestock raising, and beekeeping as their main sources of income.
Residents of the village say that difficulties in accessing agricultural lands and grazing areas, along with the deterioration of basic services, have caused significant losses to the agriculture, livestock, and beekeeping sectors, amid growing fears among residents of losing their sources of livelihood under difficult economic conditions and a lack of adequate support for border villages.
Mohammad Tamara, a resident of the border village of Maariya in the Daraa countryside, told North Press that the majority of residents depend on agriculture and beekeeping for their livelihoods, explaining that the current security conditions have significantly affected residents’ ability to carry out their daily work.
Tamara added that farmers and herders are no longer able to access many agricultural lands, grazing areas, and irrigation sites as they did in the past, which has caused direct losses for residents whose economic livelihoods are tied to these areas.
He pointed out that beekeepers have been forced to move their hives from areas near the valley and grazing lands after the spaces available to them were restricted, noting that some beekeepers lost their hives entirely, while others managed to save some of them, but the hives were left in a near-dead condition as a result of the difficult circumstances.
Tamara indicated that the damage was not limited to beekeeping but also affected livestock, stressing that a number of residents lost some of their livestock due to difficulties accessing grazing areas and water sources, which led to the death of numbers of sheep and goats.
He said that village residents live in a state of constant anxiety due to its proximity to the border, adding that residents have begun to feel fear and instability as a result of the security conditions accompanying Israeli incursions into the area.
Tamara called for special support to be provided to border villages, noting that these areas need greater attention in terms of services and infrastructure, particularly the water sector. He explained that the village’s only well is insufficient to meet the needs of its population, which ranges between 3,000 and 4,000 people.
He added that many residents are forced to purchase water tankers at high prices despite low incomes and wages, increasing the financial burden on residents.
For his part, Mohammad Awwad, a resident of Maariya village in the Daraa countryside, told North Press that residents of border villages rely mainly on agriculture, beekeeping, and the cultivation of early-season vegetables. However, restrictions imposed on access to production areas have directly affected their sources of livelihood.
Awwad explained that the valley area had been an important area for farmers and beekeepers, as they relied on it for grazing and for placing beehives near water sources. However, difficulties in accessing the area have prompted some beekeepers to move their hives to other villages, further complicating their economic circumstances.
He added that residents live in a state of daily fear and anxiety due to the security conditions, noting that despite the village’s border location, its residents have not received the support and services needed by areas located along front lines.
Awwad noted that Maariya has suffered from a lack of basic services for years, particularly water, explaining that the large population makes reliance on a single water source insufficient, especially amid rising water tanker prices and the inability of many families to afford the costs.
He stressed that low wages and rising living costs have worsened residents’ suffering, calling for the provision of the necessary services and support to help residents remain in their village and avoid being forced to leave their areas.
For his part, Ismail al-Hassan, a resident of Maariya village in the Daraa countryside, confirmed that agriculture, beekeeping, and the cultivation of early-season vegetables constitute the main pillars of livelihood for the village’s residents. However, current circumstances have limited their ability to access the lands and grazing areas on which they depend.
Al-Hassan told North Press that farmers and beekeepers used the valley areas and grazing lands on a regular basis, but restrictions on access to them have caused significant economic losses and forced many beekeepers to move their hives away from their usual areas of operation.
He added that village residents live in a state of instability due to its proximity to the border, noting that anxiety has become part of their daily lives amid continued security tensions.
Al-Hassan criticized the state of services in the village, saying that border villages should have received additional support and benefits given their location. However, he said, Maariya has remained marginalized for decades.
He pointed out that the water crisis is one of the most prominent problems facing residents, explaining that the high cost of purchasing water from tankers places an additional burden on residents, particularly amid declining purchasing power and low income levels.
Residents who spoke to North Press said they had appealed to international bodies and humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, to intervene and provide assistance, but they had not received a response so far.
This hardship comes at a time when border villages in southern Syria are facing interconnected security and economic challenges. The decline in agricultural activity and difficulties in accessing natural resources and basic services have increased the vulnerability of residents, who rely primarily on limited local sources of livelihood.