Climate Change and Conflict: The Double Burden for Syrian Refugees and Farmers
In the wake of Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011, individuals like beekeeper Muhammad Salih faced numerous challenges. For Salih, the turning point came in 2015 when Islamic State militants took over his hometown, tragically killing his brother-in-law and seven children. This led him to relocate permanently to Turkey.
“We buried them and crossed into Turkey,” Salih recounted. Now residing in Karkamis, a Turkish town near the Syrian border, he added, “I had to sell all 250 of my beehives for a third of what they would have been worth if I hadn’t been in such a rush.”
While Salih has left the violence behind, he continues to grapple with severe climatic conditions. Over the past five years, drought has severely reduced his honey production. Although recent rains have mitigated the drought, they have brought about floods and hailstorms that destroyed the essential flora for his beekeeping.
Impact of Climate on Syrian Refugees in Turkey
Turkey hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations, including millions of Syrians affected by an unpredictable climate that hampers their recovery efforts. While the Syrian civil war concluded in late 2024, climate change continues to exacerbate extreme weather conditions, complicating agricultural production in Turkey and hindering Syria’s recovery process. Floods along the Euphrates River in Syria this year displaced over 3,600 people.
This situation reflects a broader global issue, as nearly 90 million forcibly displaced people live in areas highly susceptible to climate hazards, according to the United Nations. Turkey exemplifies the challenges faced when global warming continues to render displacement and poverty issues nearly insurmountable.
COP31 Climate Summit and Funding Challenges
As the COP31 climate summit commences in Turkey, the focus will be on how global warming affects vulnerable populations. The UN refugee agency reports that nearly 4 million displaced people have returned to Syria over the past two years. Their ability to rebuild depends on not only restoring infrastructure destroyed during the war but also adapting to increasing climate pressures.
Funding for climate adaptation is dwindling, with official development assistance dropping over 23% from 2024 to 2025. Developing nations require $305 billion annually by 2035, yet only $31.7 billion was allocated to public adaptation finance in 2024, according to UN data.
Water Supply Conflicts and Infrastructure
Turkey, a country upstream of the Euphrates, has been accused by Syria and Iraq of restricting water flows, claims Turkey denies. Though Turkey increased cooperation last year, agreeing to help Syria rebuild water infrastructure and signing a water accord with Iraq, a comprehensive three-country water-sharing agreement remains elusive. As the strongest El Niño on record peaks, water scarcity and poor management elevate tensions over this precious resource.
“Climate change is an accelerator of conflict and that forcefully leads to departures and creates insecurity,” stated Fabrice Balanche, a geographer at Lumière University Lyon 2. “Adaptation to climate change can’t happen collectively without a state strategy – individuals can only adapt if they have money, or if they migrate.”
Precarious Employment for Syrian Refugees
In southern Turkey, Syrian refugees often work as seasonal agricultural laborers, earning as little as 2,000 Turkish lira ($40) daily by picking various crops. However, extreme heat and erratic rainfall threaten these jobs. Southeastern Turkey experienced a 53% decline in rainfall during the 2025 hydrological year, according to Turkey’s meteorological service.
Farmers in Karkamis are awaiting a government irrigation project to stabilize water supply to their pistachio farms, critical to Turkey’s exports. However, only 20% of the construction has been completed over a decade, due to funding issues, leaving farmers vulnerable to adverse weather.
Challenges for Syrian Returnees
In Syria, agricultural prospects remain bleak due to mismanagement and climate change. The UN refugee agency notes a dramatic depletion of groundwater and rising maximum temperatures. Sebastien Roland from Acted observed significant declines in water levels in northern Syria.
Farming challenges have led many to abandon agriculture, while others, like Muhammed Ameen, hope for technological advancements to revive the sector. Yet, the pressure of deteriorating conditions and economic hardship persists.
“Water becomes an issue no matter what,” said Pinar Dinc, a researcher at Lund University. “It’s a catch-22 situation.”
Original Story at www.spokesman.com