Latest news with #MahmoudHassano
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Drought-hit Syrian farmers hope sanctions reprieve will restore agriculture
By Kinda Makieh, Mahmoud Hassano and Firas Makdesi ALEPPO (Reuters) -Severe drought in Syria this year could lead to the failure of an estimated 75% of local wheat crops, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation, threatening the food security of millions of people. Toni Ettel, the FAO's representative in Syria, told Reuters the agency anticipated a "food shortage of 2.7 million tonnes of wheat for this year, which is sufficient to feed 16.3 million people over one year." Under former President Bashar al-Assad, Damascus depended on wheat imports from Russia to support a bread subsidy programme during past droughts. Wheat farmers like Asaad Ezzeldin, 45, have seen their crops fail due to the drought. It has further strained Syria's beleaguered agricultural sector that suffered from fighting and heavy bombardment during 13 years of civil war. "Agriculture in Aleppo's northern countryside has been hit because of the lack of irrigation. There is no rainfall," he said. Moscow, a staunch ally of Assad, suspended wheat supplies to Syria soon after Islamist rebels toppled him, citing uncertainties about the country's new authorities. In a surprise announcement last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would order the lifting of all sanctions on Syria. Washington is likely to begin providing some sanctions relief in the coming weeks. The flow of funds could revive the agriculture sector, providing much-needed technologies for irrigation and infrastructure renewal, Ettel said. Unable to buy wheat and fuel, Syria's new government had lobbied for a lifting of the sanctions that for years isolated the Syrian economy and made it dependent on Russia and Iran. Syria's agriculture ministry did not reply to a request for comment. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday she hoped ministers would reach an agreement on lifting EU economic sanctions on Syria. The EU has already eased sanctions related to energy, transport and reconstruction, and associated financial transactions, but some argued this was not enough to support its political transition and economic recovery.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Drought-hit Syrian farmers hope sanctions reprieve will restore agriculture
A view shows a farmland being irrigated as Syria experiences low rainfall, in Aleppo countryside, Syria, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano ALEPPO (Reuters) -Severe drought in Syria this year could lead to the failure of an estimated 75% of local wheat crops, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation, threatening the food security of millions of people. Toni Ettel, the FAO's representative in Syria, told Reuters the agency anticipated a "food shortage of 2.7 million tonnes of wheat for this year, which is sufficient to feed 16.3 million people over one year." Under former President Bashar al-Assad, Damascus depended on wheat imports from Russia to support a bread subsidy programme during past droughts. Wheat farmers like Asaad Ezzeldin, 45, have seen their crops fail due to the drought. It has further strained Syria's beleaguered agricultural sector that suffered from fighting and heavy bombardment during 13 years of civil war. "Agriculture in Aleppo's northern countryside has been hit because of the lack of irrigation. There is no rainfall," he said. Moscow, a staunch ally of Assad, suspended wheat supplies to Syria soon after Islamist rebels toppled him, citing uncertainties about the country's new authorities. In a surprise announcement last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would order the lifting of all sanctions on Syria. Washington is likely to begin providing some sanctions relief in the coming weeks. The flow of funds could revive the agriculture sector, providing much-needed technologies for irrigation and infrastructure renewal, Ettel said. Unable to buy wheat and fuel, Syria's new government had lobbied for a lifting of the sanctions that for years isolated the Syrian economy and made it dependent on Russia and Iran. Syria's agriculture ministry did not reply to a request for comment. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday she hoped ministers would reach an agreement on lifting EU economic sanctions on Syria. The EU has already eased sanctions related to energy, transport and reconstruction, and associated financial transactions, but some argued this was not enough to support its political transition and economic recovery. (Reporting by Kinda Makieh, Mahmoud Hassano, Firas Makdesi; Writing by Nayera Abdallah; Editing Alexandra Hudson)
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lacking aid, Syrians do what they can to rebuild devastated Aleppo
By Mahmoud Hassano ALEPPO (Reuters) - Moussa Hajj Khalil is among many Syrians rebuilding their homes from the rubble of the historic and economically important city of Aleppo, as Syria's new leaders struggle to kick-start large-scale reconstruction efforts. Aleppo, Syria's second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, was deeply scarred by more than a decade of war between government and rebel forces, suffering battles, a siege, Russian air strikes and barrel bomb attacks. Now, its people are trying to restore their lives with their own means, unwilling to wait and see if the efforts of Syria's new Islamist-led government to secure international funding come to fruition. "Nobody is helping us, no states, no organisations," said Khalil, 65, who spent seven years in a displacement camp in al-Haramain on the Syrian-Turkish border. Impoverished residents have "come and tried to restore a room to stay in with their children, which is better than life in camps," he said, as he observed workers repairing his destroyed home in Ratyan, a suburb in northwestern Aleppo. Khalil returned alone a month ago to rebuild the house so he can bring his family back from the camp. Aleppo was the first major city seized by the rebels when they launched an offensive to topple then-leader Bashar al-Assad in late November. Assad was ousted less than two weeks later, ending a 14-year war that killed hundreds of thousands, displaced millions and left much of Syria in ruins. 'DOING WHAT WE CAN' While Syria lobbies for sanctions relief, the grassroots reconstruction drive is gaining momentum and providing work opportunities. Contractors labour around the clock to meet the growing demand, salvaging materials like broken blocks and cement found between the rubble to repair homes. "There is building activity now. We are working lots, thank God!" Syrian contractor Maher Rajoub said. But the scale of the task is huge. The United Nations Development Programme is hoping to deliver $1.3 billion over three years to support Syria, including by rebuilding infrastructure, its assistant secretary-general told Reuters earlier this month. Other financial institutions and Gulf countries like Qatar have made pledges to help Syria, but are hampered by U.S. sanctions. The United States and other Western countries have set conditions for lifting sanctions, insisting that Syria's new rulers, led by a faction formerly affiliated to al Qaeda, demonstrate a commitment to peaceful and inclusive rule. A temporary suspension of some U.S. sanctions to encourage aid has had limited effect, leaving Aleppo's residents largely fending for themselves. "We lived in the camps under the sun and the heat," said Mustafa Marouch, a 50-year-old vegetable shop owner. "We returned and are doing what we can to fix our situation." (Reporting Mahmoud Hassano; Writing by Menna Alaa El-Din; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
The Star
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Lacking aid, Syrians do what they can to rebuild devastated Aleppo
FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows houses without roofs in Aleppo, Syria, April 19, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano/File Photo ALEPPO (Reuters) - Moussa Hajj Khalil is among many Syrians rebuilding their homes from the rubble of the historic and economically important city of Aleppo, as Syria's new leaders struggle to kick-start large-scale reconstruction efforts. Aleppo, Syria's second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, was deeply scarred by more than a decade of war between government and rebel forces, suffering battles, a siege, Russian air strikes and barrel bomb attacks. Now, its people are trying to restore their lives with their own means, unwilling to wait and see if the efforts of Syria's new Islamist-led government to secure international funding come to fruition. "Nobody is helping us, no states, no organisations," said Khalil, 65, who spent seven years in a displacement camp in al-Haramain on the Syrian-Turkish border. Impoverished residents have "come and tried to restore a room to stay in with their children, which is better than life in camps," he said, as he observed workers repairing his destroyed home in Ratyan, a suburb in northwestern Aleppo. Khalil returned alone a month ago to rebuild the house so he can bring his family back from the camp. Aleppo was the first major city seized by the rebels when they launched an offensive to topple then-leader Bashar al-Assad in late November. Assad was ousted less than two weeks later, ending a 14-year war that killed hundreds of thousands, displaced millions and left much of Syria in ruins. 'DOING WHAT WE CAN' While Syria lobbies for sanctions relief, the grassroots reconstruction drive is gaining momentum and providing work opportunities. Contractors labour around the clock to meet the growing demand, salvaging materials like broken blocks and cement found between the rubble to repair homes. "There is building activity now. We are working lots, thank God!" Syrian contractor Maher Rajoub said. But the scale of the task is huge. The United Nations Development Programme is hoping to deliver $1.3 billion over three years to support Syria, including by rebuilding infrastructure, its assistant secretary-general told Reuters earlier this month. Other financial institutions and Gulf countries like Qatar have made pledges to help Syria, but are hampered by U.S. sanctions. The United States and other Western countries have set conditions for lifting sanctions, insisting that Syria's new rulers, led by a faction formerly affiliated to al Qaeda, demonstrate a commitment to peaceful and inclusive rule. A temporary suspension of some U.S. sanctions to encourage aid has had limited effect, leaving Aleppo's residents largely fending for themselves. "We lived in the camps under the sun and the heat," said Mustafa Marouch, a 50-year-old vegetable shop owner. "We returned and are doing what we can to fix our situation." (Reporting Mahmoud Hassano; Writing by Menna Alaa El-Din; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
