Khaberni - In a scene that breaks the hearts of Syrians, video clips circulating on social media show the Orontes River drying up for the first time in its history.
For the first time in its history
The Orontes River has completely dried up for the first time in history, due to reduced rainfall and lower flow of its source springs, while the water level in the Rastan Dam has dropped to minimal levels.
With the water cut off, some farmers in the Hama countryside have been forced to rely on drainage channels to irrigate their crops, increasing health risks and threatening the quality of agricultural production.
About 54 years ago, the Orontes River recorded its largest decline in flow, to witness today its first complete drought ever.
The Orontes is considered the main irrigation artery in the area, making its drying up exacerbate the losses of farmers and increase the cost of irrigation, along with environmental repercussions affecting vegetation and aquatic life.
Observers perceive this unprecedented event as a reflection of the worsening water crisis and the urgency of taking immediate actions to protect water resources, according to comments.
The worst drought in decades
It is reported that a U.S. report last September stated that large parts of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East are facing the worst drought in decades, as rivers and lakes dry up, crops wilt, and major cities suffer water cutoffs lasting days, according to "The Washington Post".
The newspaper stated that Syria is experiencing one of the most tragic situations, as experts say that the rainfall rates have been declining for decades.
