Deep Dives
In February 2015, ISIS fighters swept through the Khabur Valley in northeastern Syria, capturing thirty-five Assyrian Christian villages in a matter of days. They kidnapped hundreds, destroyed churches, and desecrated cultural sites—acts that received international attention and condemnation. What went largely unnoticed was their systematic destruction of the irrigation
Deep Dives
In the northeastern plains of Syria, the Khabour River, once a lifeline for agriculture and drinking water, has dwindled to a fraction of its former flow. Across the Jazira region, wells run dry, irrigation systems fail, and communities face acute water stress. Yet in much of the discourse surrounding this
Deep Dives
In recent years, a familiar media script has re-emerged: drought triggers conflict. It was said about Syria after 2011. It is now increasingly said about Iran amid water protests and social unrest. The narrative is tidy, urgent, and emotionally persuasive. It is also deeply incomplete. This framing usually follows a
Deep Dives
In the Syrian case, neo-colonialism operates less through direct territorial control and more through structural dependence: control over finance, technology, narratives, and access to water flows (upstream, institutional, or humanitarian). Water governance becomes a lever that constrains food sovereignty while appearing technocratic, humanitarian, or environmentally neutral. Introduction: from hydro-mission to
Deep Dives
In Mina’s pastel - coloured streets, water does not just appear as horizon and reflection, it is present as inheritance and imagination. The murals that colour these waterfront walls do not merely decorate: they speak to a continuity of life that once braced itself against the tides and still
Deep Dives
How much cropland does Syria actually have? At first glance, this may seem like a technical or academic question. In reality, it is a policy problem with real consequences. Governments, humanitarian agencies, and development partners rely on cropland estimates to assess food security risks, plan agricultural recovery, allocate water, and
Deep Dives
A 2025 UNU-INWEH report entitled “The Drought-Migration-Conflict Nexus: Was the Syrian Civil War Really Caused by Climate Change?” provides a comprehensive reexamination of the commonly held narrative linking Syria’s 2007-2009 drought to the 2011 uprising. Summary of UNU - INWEH Findings The study employs a mixed-methods approach (meteorological analysis,
Deep Dives
The Tigris–Euphrates isn’t just a river system; it’s a pressure map. Climate stress squeezes from above, politics pulls from the sides, and everyday life (drinking water, crops, and electricity) gets caught in the vise. This piece distills a multiscale assessment we prepared for Première Urgence Internationale (PUI)
Deep Dives
Syria’s most decisive reconstruction battle won’t be fought on city streets, it will be won or lost at the kitchen sink. After a decade of conflict, earthquake damage and worsening droughts, the question is no longer whether to reform water governance, but how. Two big ideas dominate the
Deep Dives
Syria’s water debate has reached a historic fork. One path calls for an independent national authority that finally untangles the clashing mandates of several ministries and scores of local councils involved in managing water. The other champions a Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus approach that forces every sector to put its
Deep Dives
By the end of July 2024, the Blue Peace Middle East concluded its inaugural Youth Fellowship Programme (YFP), a ground breaking initiative that brought together bright minds from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Türkiye. The goal was to foster sustainable development and peace through transboundary water cooperation. I had
Deep Dives
In Jordan, agriculture faces numerous challenges, including water scarcity and harsh environmental conditions. Addressing these issues is crucial for the country’s food security and economic stability. HypoFarm in Jordan is leading the way with innovative solutions like hydroponics, demonstrating that sustainable agriculture is not only possible but also profitable.