Khaberni - With the start of the truffle harvesting season in the Syrian desert areas, warnings about deadly risks lurking for civilians attempting to secure their livelihoods in minefields and remnants of war have resurfaced.
The Syrian Civil Defense has issued a set of guidelines for citizens, urging them to exercise maximum caution and avoid entering unsecured areas, as field reports confirm that the spread of random mines in large areas of the desert turns the quest for "white gold" into a perilous adventure.
These warnings come against a backdrop of shocking figures recorded in past seasons; where more than 110 people were killed between February and April of 2024. However, statistics released by the "Syrian Network for Human Rights" revealed a further deterioration in the situation in 2025, with the number of truffle gatherers’ casualties rising to 180 civilians.
Despite the increasing number of victims, it has not deterred enthusiasts from collecting Syrian truffles, which are called "the jewel", due to their high price and the presence of luxury varieties, which are touted for treating many diseases.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights reports that truffle gathering casualties during the season are concentrated in the provinces of Homs, Hama, Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, and Hasakah, where truffles are found in an area of about 75,000 square kilometers.
Truffles thrive in desert areas following heavy rainfall, growing near certain well-known plants like "raqrooq", and they leave cracks in the soil, guiding searchers to their locations.
Truffles are commonly referred to as "daughters of thunder"; because they appear after thunderstorms and heavy rains, and some also call them "the poor man’s meat".
There are several types of Syrian truffles, the most expensive being "Al-Zubaidi"; which can weigh about 1 kilogram per piece. Other types include "Al-Hamra", "Al-Bayda", "Al-Jibaih", and "Al-Hobar".
Syrian truffles have a significant global standing; they are exported annually to Lebanon, Iraq, Gulf countries, Turkey, and some European countries, via land and air freight.
