Syria faces climate change threats besides war, economic collapse – OCHA
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday that Syria has not only endured war, displacement and economic hardships, but faces the challenging threats of climate change as well.
OCHA said in a new report that environmental risks and climate change pose a threat to Syria’s future as it “wreaks havoc on agricultural communities, robs people of their livelihoods, and makes it difficult for people to return to their homes and rebuild their lives.”
The Syrian crisis has led to the almost entire collapse of the essential services, the report noted adding, “Two-thirds of Syria’s water facilities suffered extensive damage during the conflict, and only one water station is unaffected.”
This exposes communities to disease outbreaks, as some of them find themselves forced to use unsafe water sources.
Other challenges like, the severe drought-like conditions and reduced water levels of the Euphrates River also make it difficult for people to make a living, and force farmers in agricultural communities to stop cultivating their land.
Additionally, the influx of displaced people to the coastal region, which contains more than 90 percent of the country’s vegetation, has led to “significant land degradation, erosion, and environmental pollution.”
Deforestation and wild fires, which were caused by high temperatures and dry vegetation, contributed to the air pollution and the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, worsening the climate crisis.
The report highlighted that in 2022, almost 7.8 million people received humanitarian assistance. However, during the Syrian crisis the number of people in need has increased from 14.6 million in 2022 to 15.3 million in 2023, including 7 million children and 4.5 million women.”
“The revised 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria seeks $5.4 billion to assist 14.2 million people, but the appeal is only 29 per cent funded,” according to OCHA.
The report noted the Syrian conflict is the main reason behind the humanitarian crisis and is worsening due to the effects of climate change.
In the report, OCHA called for more funding and added, ” Syria needs to transition to a more sustainable and climate-resilient economy. This requires international support for investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable agriculture.”