Syrian farmers milling wheat in the outskirts of Damascus. — AP
THE worst drought in decades is gripping much of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, drying out rivers and lakes, shrivelling crops and leading to days long tap water cut-offs in major cities.
The situation is particularly dire in Syria, where experts say rainfall has been declining for decades and where the fledgling government is trying to stitch the country back together following a 14-year civil war that left millions impoverished and reliant on foreign aid.
