Syria wracked with drought

DAMASCUS, Syria, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The Syrian government is beginning to officially recognize pervasive drought conditions as the United Nations makes urgent appeals for assistance.

Damascus is downplaying drought conditions in the country, though the recent ballyhoo over global climate change has made it into the official conversation.

Much of the Middle East is wracked with drought. Damascus cuts urban water supplies at the end of each day as the agricultural sector uses 90 percent of the available water.

Nabil Sukkar, a Syrian economist, told The Financial Times drought conditions are creating problems beyond economic issues.

"When you have a good season, the economy grows; when you have a drought, it slows down," he said. "A lot of people have been displaced, so it creates pressure on Damascus and this is a problem -- it's a social problem."

Official estimates predict the amount of water available for the region should drop by half within the next 50 years, leading to internal displacement as urban farmers are forced to find alternative means of income.

Some regional farmers, the Times notes, are forced to use sewage water to irrigate their crops.

U.N. officials said they have called for $53 million in aid but tell the Times the drought problem is "beyond the capacity of the country."