By Sarah El Safty and Maha El Dahan

DUBAI (Reuters) -Syria faces a potential food crisis after the worst drought in 36 years slashed wheat production by around 40%, squeezing the country's cash-strapped government, which has been unable to secure large-scale purchases.

Around three million Syrians could face severe hunger, the United Nations' World Food Programme told Reuters in written answers to questions, without giving a timeframe.

Over half of the population of about 25.6 million is currently food insecure, it added.

In a June report, the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that Syria faced a wheat shortfall of 2.73 million metric tons this year, or enough to feed around 16 million people for a year.

The situation poses a challenge to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose government is seeking to rebuild Syria after a 14-year civil war that saw the toppling of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

Wheat is Syria's most important crop and supports a state-subsidised bread programme - a vital part of everyday life.

Yet Sharaa's government has been slow to mobilise international support for big grain purchases.

Reuters spoke to a Syrian official, three traders, three aid workers and two industry sources with direct knowledge of wheat........

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