Syria: Floods - May 2026

In late May 2026, the Euphrates River experienced severe flooding, expanding to three times its normal size, from 60.9 km² to 188.7 km², following exceptional upstream rainfall and large‑scale dam water releases. The flood inundated 7,210 hectares of agricultural land, equivalent to 8.2% of all cultivated land in Deir‑ez‑Zor Governorate, at a critical time during the wheat harvest period. ([WFP, 3 Jun 2026](https://reliefweb.int/node/4214698/))

Since mid-May 2026, Syria has experienced severe flooding and rapidly rising water levels along the Euphrates River following a sharp increase in water inflow from upstream areas in Türkiye. Affected areas include Deir ez-Zor and Ar-Raqqa governorates in addition to Jarabulus from Aleppo governorate. The increased inflow, reportedly reaching approximately 2,200 m³ per second, is mainly attributed to seasonal snowmelt and the opening of spillways at upstream dams. As reservoir levels exceeded 97% of storage capacity, authorities initiated emergency water management measures, including the opening of three spillway gates at the Euphrates Dam for the first time in more than three decades. The flooding has resulted in the displacement of at least 1,626 families (approx. 8,280 people) in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, partial flooding of displacement sites in Ar-Raqqa, around 30 families, damage to agricultural land and disruption to critical infrastructure, including water stations and local access routes. ([IFRC, 9 Jun 2026](https://reliefweb.int/node/4215560/))

Based on the latest figures from the Directorate of Agriculture (DoA), nearly 20,500 dunumus had been affected by the floods. Oxfam's assessment of 89 farming households across three sub-districts, Al-Tebni, Deir ez-Zor, and Khasham, paints a picture of acute vulnerability. Nearly 85% of the farming population reported total or partial loss of agricultural income. Critically, 85% of irrigation systems (whether individual or community ones) across all surveyed areas are compl