News: Syria’s Woes Paint Picture of Environmental Migration to Come

(AlertNet) August 1, 2011 – The political turmoils in Syria, along with Egypt and other countries in the Middle East, have entangled the international community and served as a major test of global governance. Syria’s political difficulties have lead to such problems as a stream of refugees fleeing to the Turkish border, exacerbated sectarian tensions and contributed to […]

Syria: Drought Driving Farmers to the Cities

(IRIN) September 2, 2009 – Thousands of Syrian farming families have been forced to move to cities in search of alternative work after two years of drought and failed crops followed a number of unproductive years. “The situation has now got really severe; we are talking about desert, rather than farming land,” said Abdel Qader […]

160 Syrian Villages Deserted ‘Due to Climate Change’

June 2, 2009 (AFP) – Some 160 villages in northern Syria were deserted by their residents in 2007 and 2008 because of climate change, according to a study released on Tuesday. The report drawn up by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) warns of potential armed conflict for control of water resources in the […]