MENA

  • A merchant offers a customer desert truffles at a market in the city of Hama in west-central Syria. All photos by AFP
    A merchant offers a customer desert truffles at a market in the city of Hama in west-central Syria. All photos by AFP
  • A platter of desert truffles for sale at the Hama market
    A platter of desert truffles for sale at the Hama market
  • Sorting desert truffles at the market
    Sorting desert truffles at the market
  • A merchant presents desert truffles at the Hama market. The prized fungi are known as 'yellow gold'
    A merchant presents desert truffles at the Hama market. The prized fungi are known as 'yellow gold'
  • Stallholders sort desert truffles at the Hama market. They are collected between February and April
    Stallholders sort desert truffles at the Hama market. They are collected between February and April
  • Truffles for sale in Hama. Each season, hundreds of impoverished Syrians search for the yellow gold in the vast Badia Desert region
    Truffles for sale in Hama. Each season, hundreds of impoverished Syrians search for the yellow gold in the vast Badia Desert region
  • Truffle hunting is a dangerous pursuit, as the Badia Desert is a hideout for extremists and is littered with landmines
    Truffle hunting is a dangerous pursuit, as the Badia Desert is a hideout for extremists and is littered with landmines
  • In the 2023 season, more than 130 truffle hunters have been killed, mostly by extremists and mines, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor
    In the 2023 season, more than 130 truffle hunters have been killed, mostly by extremists and mines, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor
  • Stallholders sort their desert truffle stock at the market in Hama, west-central Syria
    Stallholders sort their desert truffle stock at the market in Hama, west-central Syria

Syrians risk their lives for desert truffles - in pictures

More than 130 collectors have been killed this season while searching for the prized fungi

The National

March 11, 2023

Updated: March 11, 2023, 9:31 AM