In Syria's Daraa, water is life - and today the land is parched

In the southern Syrian province of Daraa, water has become an increasingly scarce resource, posing a severe threat to the livelihoods of its residents. Once a thriving region, the area now grapples with the consequences of its war-torn infrastructure, unregulated well-drilling, and prolonged drought. Once home to the largest natural body of water in the province, Lake al-Muzayrib, has been reduced to a cracked expanse of land, with abandoned boats scattered on the dried-up soil.

Mohammad Almasalma, a resident in the region, describes the current situation with sadness, stating, "The sight of drought saddens me." For decades, Almasalma worked as a fisherman, relying on the lake for his livelihood and the local agricultural sector for the community. However, the drying up of the lake has forced him to seek alternative means of survival, engaging in household jobs and plumbing work.

The water crisis in Daraa is the result of a combination of factors, including prolonged drought, mismanagement of water resources, and excessive well-drilling. The lake, which once flowed at a rate of up to 1,000 liters per second, now barely trickles, with the rate falling to less than 170 liters per second in 2016. Experts predict that it has now entirely disappeared, leaving the region with limited groundwater resources.

The impacts of this crisis extend beyond the loss of a vital water source. Agriculture, a cornerstone of the local economy, has also suffered due to the depletion of water resources and damage caused by the ongoing conflict. Farmers, who have passed down their livelihoods through generations, now face uncertain futures, with many forced to abandon their lands or seek alternative employment.

The struggle for survival and the loss of cherished resources have left a deep imprint on the community, as Abdul-Munaf al-Masri expresses, "I'm like a fish; if I leave this place, I die."