Drought concerns plague Syrian farmers

[steven johnson]

Climate change computer models predicted both increased precipitation in some areas and increased drought in others. The models generally show that precipitation will increase at high latitudes and decrease at low and mid-latitudes. Don't you just hate that when the models start coming true?

http://drought.unl.edu/whatis/cchange.htm

ALEPPO, Syria, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Pervasive drought in northeastern Syria sparked the largest wave of internal displacement in the region in years, U.N. agricultural officials said.

Outdated irrigation systems and chronic drought pushes 1 million poverty-stricken farmers to look elsewhere for their livelihood, the U.N.'s humanitarian news agency IRIN reports.

Soaring costs of feed for cattle and other livestock is complicating the issue, prompting 50 percent of the population to leave for metropolitan areas.

Damascus, in coordination with the Swiss government and the United Nations, is moving on a $40 million project for drinking water while agricultural officials tabled a $476,000 drought-warning system.

Drought concerns plague Syrian farmers