A dried out gulley usually flowing with natural spring water is seen in the Palestinian village of al-Auja, near Jericho
A dried out gulley usually flowing with natural spring water is seen in the Palestinian village of al-Auja, near the West Bank city of Jericho March 7, 2014. The Middle East's driest winter in several decades could pose a threat to global food prices, with local crops depleted along with farmers' livelihoods, U.N. experts and climatologists say. Varying degrees of drought are hitting almost two thirds of the limited arable land across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Iraq. To match analysis CLIMATE-DROUGHT/MIDDLEAST REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS AGRICULTURE)
Cattle graze in the Palestinian village of al-Auja, near Jericho
Cattle graze in the Palestinian village of al-Auja, near the West Bank city of Jericho March 7, 2014. The Middle East's driest winter in several decades could pose a threat to global food prices, with local crops depleted along with farmers' livelihoods, U.N. experts and climatologists say. Varying degrees of drought are hitting almost two thirds of the limited arable land across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Iraq. To match analysis CLIMATE-DROUGHT/MIDDLEAST REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: ENVIRONMENT ANIMALS BUSINESS AGRICULTURE)
A man stands nearby as smoke rises from above roofs in the town of Morek
A man stands nearby as smoke rises from above roofs in the town of Morek in Hama province, a town on the highway that runs from Hama to Aleppo March 6, 2014. Picture taken March 6, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmad Rif (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
A Free Syrian Army fighter prepares to fire mortar shells in the town of Morek
A Free Syrian Army fighter prepares to fire mortar shells in the town of Morek in Hama province, a town on the highway that runs from Hama to Aleppo March 6, 2014. Picture taken March 6, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmad Rif (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Free Syrian Army fighters walk with their weapons in the town of Morek in Hama province
Free Syrian Army fighters walk with their weapons in the town of Morek in Hama province, a town on the highway that runs from Hama to Aleppo March 6, 2014. Picture taken March 6, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmad Rif (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
A Free Syrian Army fighter mans an anti-aircraft gun in the back of a pick-up truck in the town of Morek in Hama province
A Free Syrian Army fighter mans an anti-aircraft gun in the back of a pick-up truck in the town of Morek in Hama province, a town on the highway that runs from Hama to Aleppo March 6, 2014. Picture taken March 6, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmad Rif (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Free Syrian Army fighters walk in the town of Morek in Hama province
Free Syrian Army fighters walk in the town of Morek in Hama province, a town on the highway that runs from Hama to Aleppo March 6, 2014. Picture taken March 6, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmad Rif (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Smoke rises above roofs in the town of Morek in Hama province
Smoke rises above roofs in the town of Morek in Hama province, a town on the highway that runs from Hama to Aleppo March 6, 2014. Picture taken March 6, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmad Rif (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)